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John “Jack” William Henderson

December 5, 1927 ~ January 27, 2022

John "Jack" William Henderson, age 94, died peacefully in his home on January 27, 2022. Born December 5, 1927 in Jacksonville, Fl., Jack was the son of the late Herschel Crist Henderson and Dell Young Henderson. He was preceded in death by his brother, Charles Lawrence Henderson. Jack grew up in Macon, GA, where he graduated from Lanier High School for Boys in 1945. He was drafted into the US Army and enlisted on April 1, 1946. He served an 18 month commitment. While he was in the army, he worked as a heavy weapons infantryman in the Enlisted Army and then went on to serve as a Special Agent in the 1135th Counter Intelligence Corps (CIC) Detachment in the Regular Army. He was honorably discharged in 1947. He returned home and enrolled in Georgia Tech in January 1948, where he received a degree in Civil Engineering in 1952. Due to his love of music, Jack played trombone and marched in the marching bands in high school and at Georgia Tech. After graduation from Georgia Tech, he began working with the Coastline Railroad in Savannah, Ga. in 1952. He was transferred to Rocky Mount where he met his future wife. Jack married Doril Williams in 1953. He was transferred by the railroad to Augusta, Ga. in 1956. He and his wife, along with their two young daughters, moved back to Rocky Mount in 1963 where he began a career with Central Builders, Inc. Except for a brief period, Jack worked for Central Builders, Inc. until December 31, 2014. Jack was a member of First Baptist Church, Rocky Mount from 1952 until his death. He was extremely active and continued to attend on Wednesday nights and Sundays for as long as he could. He was a deacon, serving several terms, including once as chairman. He was an active member of Sunday School, and with his wife, Doril, taught a young marrieds class for many years. He served on many church committees. He was a dedicated member of the choir until his eyesight required him to stop. He sang in the church quartet for many years and sang in a group outside the church while playing his "Galvanized Stradivarius", a metal wash tub with a piece of rope attached to a tobacco stick which was attached to the wash tub. Many people enjoyed watching him play and sing for many years throughout Nash and Edgecombe counties. He also learned to sound the shofar, a musical instrument made from the horn of a ram or other animal, used on important Jewish public and religious occasions, to start the Walk for Life for the Rocky Mount Pregnancy Center, and to send off groups going on mission trips from his church. Jack was a devoted husband and father, loving brother, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle and friend. He enjoyed sharing stories from his time on the railroad and in the army with all of them. Jack left a lasting impression on many. He leaves behind to cherish his memory his loving wife of 68 years, Doril Williams Henderson; daughters Sharon Strandberg (Howard) and Wanda Johnson (Don) of Rocky Mount; grandchildren, Wes Strandberg (Keller) of Rocky Mount, Britt Johnson (Samantha) of Boone, Catharine Strandberg of Nags Head, Will Johnson (Kaylynn) of Rocky Mount, Grant Johnson (Foss) of Raleigh; great-grandchildren, Hunter and Jack Strandberg, Beck, Spencer and Hayes Johnson, and Cade, Dax, and Teegan Johnson; sister Mary Dell Gardner of Macon, Ga.; brother-in-law Jack Williams (Davetta) of Corinth, TX.; and sister-in-law Gloria Proakis (Tony) of Richmond, VA. The family would like to say special thanks to his caregivers Stacy Johnson and Alicia Lyle, and to UNC Nash Hospice for their compassion, kindness and excellent care. A service to celebrate Jack's life will be held on Sunday, January 30th at 3:00pm at First Baptist Church, Rocky Mount with Rev. Luke Lunceford and Rev. Bill Grisham officiating. Visitation will be held in the Family Ministry Center of the church one hour prior to the service. For the health and safety of family and friends, the family requests that all wear masks. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Jack's memory to First Baptist Church of Rocky Mount (Capital Fund), 200 S. Church St., Rocky Mount, NC 27804; Nash Hospice and Palliative Care, 2460 Curtis Ellis Dr., Rocky Mount, NC 27804; or Meals on Wheels, PO Box 7611, Rocky Mount, NC 27804. Arrangements entrusted to Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 1130 N. Winstead Avenue, Rocky Mount, NC 27804. You may share memories and condolences with the family by visiting www.wheelerwoodlief.com. Visitation First Baptist Church Family Ministry Center 200 S. Church Street Rocky Mount , NC 27804 Sunday 1/30, 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm Visitation will be held in the Family Ministry Center of the church one hour prior to the service. For the health and safety of family and friends, the family requests that all wear masks. Service First Baptist Church (Rocky Mount) 200 S. Church Street Rocky Mount, NC 27804 ID ) ); ?>"> --> 252-446-9113 --> | Sunday 1/30, 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm A service to celebrate Jack's life will be held on Sunday, January 30th at 3:00pm at First Baptist Church, Rocky Mount with Rev. Luke Lunceford and Rev. Bill Grisham officiating. For the health and safety of family and friends, the family requests that all wear masks.

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  1. We are so thankful for the opportunity to have known this kind and wonderful soul. Our family continues to be blessed by the legacy that lives on in his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Covering all of you in prayer and praying for peace and comfort until you see him again. We love you.

  2. My deepest condolences Mrs. Henderson, Sharon, Wanda and families. He loved his Heavenly Father, his church and his family. May God’s grace be with all of you during this difficult time. Well done thy good and faithful servant. Scott and Georgia Phillips

  3. My deepest condolences Mrs. Henderson, Sharon, Wanda and families. He loved his Heavenly Father, his church and his family. May God’s grace be with all of you during this difficult time. Well done thy good and faithful servant. Scott and Georgia Phillips

  4. Jack was my first Sunday School teacher over forty years ago. We played music together many times. I will miss him dearly. He was a great friend!

  5. Enjoyed your washtub music with Rudolph(Toad) and the group at the rest home so much. God’s blessing’s to your wife.


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