Leroy Henderson, Jr.

Celebrating the Life of LeRoy Henderson, Jr.

HIS EARLY LIFE

LeRoy Henderson Jr., affectionately known as "Sonny," was born on July 3, 1930 to LeRoy Henderson Sr. and Ruth Freeman in Mexia, Texas. LeRoy was the eldest of two with a sister Sylvira. Growing up, LeRoy joined his family picking cotton to help financially support the family. He attended the local high school in Mexia, Texas. LeRoy was a shy introverted sharply dressed fellow. During family outings into town, he would remain in the car to read the newspaper and people watch. One day, Sonny caught the eye of a certain virtuous young woman named Claudine - "Baby Honey." She was 14 years old and he was 5 years her senior. He had to ask permission from her grandparents to court Baby Honey. She thought that he was weird sitting in the car watching as his family went shopping. Baby Honey was well protected and well guarded as she had a lot of cousins who warned Sonny that if he hurt her, they would have a "chicken party." If he had to have Baby Honey home before 10:00 PM, Sonny would have her home at 9:00 PM. Sonny was pleased to escort Baby Honey to her High School Prom where he remained in the car all dressed up while Baby Honey elegantly graced her peers while inside the Prom, enjoying the festivities. Thus began the lifelong love story of Sonny and Baby Honey. 

Sonny worked different jobs in the community as he courted Baby Honey, however he dreamed of a better life for them than the small community could provide. 

One day the opportunity arose when Sonny's uncle and aunt came to visit from Los Angeles and offered to take him back with them. He jumped at the chance and promised Baby Honey he would return to get her. Her heart was broken when he left, however they wrote letters to one another and kept in constant contact. 

While in California, Sonny worked as a bus boy, a janitor, and even a chauffeur. Sonny wrote a letter to Baby Honey's grandparents asking them if he could marry her and wouldn't you know it, they said, Yes! In keeping his word, Sonny sent for Baby Honey who was lovingly escorted to California on the train by his sister, Sylvira. Baby Honey and Sylvira finally made it to Los Angeles's Union Station and called for Sonny to pick them up. However, the call went unanswered as Sonny was outside mowing the lawn and did not hear the phone, missing her call. As fate would have it, Baby Honey remembered the neighbor's phone number and called him who went over to Sonny and said, "Man your fiance is on the phone, you need to go and get her" which he immediately did. So, Sonny, Sylvira, and Baby Honey stayed with his aunt and uncle in their home in Los Angeles with specific sleeping arrangements. Baby Honey and Sylvira slept in the front bedroom, the aunt and uncle slept in the middle bedroom while Sonny slept in the back bedroom. There would be no hanky panky going on under his aunt and uncle's roof!

In June of 1954, after Baby Honey's 18th birthday in December of 1953, Sonny and Baby Honey accompanied by Sylvira, his aunt and uncle went to Los Angeles City Hall to get married, but were told they needed Baby Honey's birth certificate to prove that she was indeed 18 years old, and old enough to get married. Disappointed, they went home and immediately sent back to Texas for a copy of Baby Honey's birth certificate. Waiting for Baby Honey's birth certificate to arrive seemed like a lifetime for the young couple. However, the big day finally arrived and on August 2, 1954, Sonny and Baby Honey went to the Justice of the Peace at Los Angeles City Hall and were finally united in holy matrimony, with his sister, Sylvira as their witness! Sonny and Baby Honey's marriage of 71 years not only honored their marriage vows but set an example for all couples on how to keep the knot tied!

Le Roy decided to join the military; he was on his way to sign up with the US Army, but at the last minute, he had an immediate change of heart and signed up with the US Air Force. He spent 21 years of dutiful service serving his country before retiring from the US Air Force in Tucson, Arizona in 1975. 

HIS MILITARY LIFE

In 1954, prior to enlisting in the US Air Force, he married the Love of His Life, Etta Claudine Palmer, affectionately called "Baby Honey." His dutiful service in the Air Force would take him and his family to Mississippi where their first child Latanya Rhenee, was born in 1955. After Rhenee was born, LeRoy was stationed overseas causing Claudine to return home to Mexia, Texas where she gave birth to their 2nd child, a son named LeRoy III. After that the military took their family to New York in 1958 where their 3rd child, LaRae was born. The family's stay in New York was short lived causing them to move from New York to California. While in California, LeRoy was stationed at Norton Air Force Base in San Bernardino in 1959. Within the same year, their 4th child, LeKita Ruth was born. This move to California was longer than the previous ones where LeRoy was also stationed at Los Angeles Air Force Base. In 1961, the 5th child, Lionel Raphael was born. The family remained in Los Angeles where the 6th child Lanier Ravel was born in San Pedro and their 7th child, Leah Rhenita was born in Hollywood. LeRoy and his young family were in Los Angeles during the Watts Riots. LeRoy's military career took him to war in Vietnam, his wife and his children to the Philippines and Leah's first language was Tagalog, language of the Philippines. This overseas tour lasted about 15 months. After which, LeRoy and his family moved to Florida, Louisiana, and Arizona before settling down in Southern California. 

After serving dutifully in the US Air Force, LeRoy held the following positions:

AAFES Stock Room Employee, Davis Monthan AFB in Tucson, Arizona his last duty station

AAFES Stock Room Manager, Norton AFB in California in 1975, retiring in 1992

Vehicle delivery person at Rotolo Chevrolet, Fontana, California

HIS RETIRED LIFE

In 1972, LeRoy and Claudine purchased the family's first motor home so that he and his family could travel the US in comfort. In 1995 LeRoy and Claudine became members of NAARVA, North African American Recreational Vehicle Association. He and his bride Claudine loved to travel but never had a liking for flying or cruising. The couple traveled all of the United States except for Alaska, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington as well as a few unnamed northern states. 

LeRoy, unlike most men and head of a family, retired several times:

1st Retirement - United States Air Force after 21 years, 1954-1975

2nd Retirement - Norton Air Force Base Exchange after 22 years, 1974-1996

3rd Retirement - Rotolo Chevrolet after 16 years, 2018 at the age of 88

LeRoy took pride in providing for his family and always worked and was considered "A Great Provider" by his loving wife and doting children. He always saved his money and allowed his wife, Claudine, to spend liberally. When LeRoy and Claudine were ever separated they would faithfully end their phone calls with a loving "Tweedly!" She called him "Honey" and he called her "Mom" both terms of endearment they specifically designated for each other and would always kiss each other when they left one another's presence. Oh, what a love these two shared!

REUNITED FOREVER, NEVER TO BE SEPARATED AGAIN

LeRoy was preceded in death by his parents, LeRoy Sr. and Ruth, his sister Sylvira, his two sons, LeRoy III and Lionel Raphael, and the "Love of His Life, Baby Honey," Mother Etta Claudine Palmer Henderson. LeRoy, "Sonny" and Claudine, "Baby Honey," shared a love in marriage for 71 years and are now reunited forever in eternity with their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 

LeRoy leaves to cherish his memory, his 5 children; LaTanya Rhene'e Henderson, LaRae Henderson, Lekita Ruth Solomon, Lanier Ravel Henderson, and Leah Rhenita (Patrick) Lewis. Also left to cherish his memory are his 11 grandchildren; LeHendro Rainel Grant, Veronica Rhenee Wherry, Lyle Reginald Hunt-Henderson, Lanisha Rekita Gladys Grant, Christopher Lee Williams (Vanessa), LaNya Rise' Lyons (David), LaVan Raphael Charles Solomon, LaTesa Claudine McKinney, Larissa Mallory McKinney, L'Xzander R'mani Stephenson; 20 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren.

MR. LEROY HENDERSON, JR. - "HE WHO FOUND HIS GOOD THING"

He saw her from across the street and knew instantly in his heart,

That they were destined to meet and to never be apart. 

Though she was 5 years younger than he,

She was everything he needed and wanted her to be. 

A good, godly, and a Christian girl, is who he wanted to share his world. 

So, he stepped up to the plate,

By asking her Grandparents if she could be his date. 

Their dating would extend more farther than near,

Because he had already enlisted in the US Air Force that year.

But he made her a promise before he left that day, 

That he would come for her to marry her

And by his side for 71 years, she would stay.

So, from Texas she departed headed to California to become his wife, 

With his sister, Sylvira in tow, Baby Honey was ecstatic about her new life. 

The life of one married to a proud military man,

Brought so much joy with 7 children who soon became his biggest fan. 

Throughout their life they had their share of despair, 

Having to bury two young songs made life seem unfair.

Yet they clung to each other with the Lord as their guide, 

Someone Baby Honey trusted in never to leave their side. 

Though she was called to her heavenly home first,

Leaving Sonny and their 5 remaining children with an undeniable thirst. 

A thirst that only the Lord God Almighty could relieve, 

Once Sonny placed his trust in the one he came to believe. 

Sonny and Baby Honey are now together again, 

Never to be separated for eternity was their win. 

So, to all his children and their children too,

If you want to see him again, this is what you must do. 

Accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior,

He'll be your Best Friend,

Knowing that your eternity in Him is a guaranteed win.

So, cry if you must but don't raise such a fuss,

For on that great day, Jesus will return to reclaim all of us. 

Yes, Sonny found his good thing,

When Baby Honey, Etta Claudine accepted his ring.

As written in His Word, LeRoy obtained God's favor, 

Lasting throughout all eternity, oh what a blessing to savor!

POEM WRITTEN BY PASTOR DIANNE JAMERSON, PH.D., UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ON JUNE 4, 2026. OBITUARY BY PASTOR DIANNE JAMERSON, PH.D., AND LEAH LEWIS, DAUGHTER NUMBER 7 OR 7.