Clarence Ray Henderson

CLARENCE R. HENDERSON
1941 - 2025 Clarence R. Henderson Jr. (Clay); Age 83; Passed away Monday, April 7, 2025 in Sterling Heights, Michigan. He was born on May 9th, 1941, in Cochran, Georgia to Grace Tyson and Clarence Henderson Sr. He touched the lives of many and will be deeply missed by all who knew him. Funeral Services to celebrate his life will take place Thursday, April 17, 2025 at 10:00 AM at Beth Eden Missionary Baptist Church, 15820 Wyoming Ave., Detroit, Michigan 48238. Following his services at church, Clarence will be taken to Great Lakes National Cemetery, 4200 Belford Road, Holly, Michigan 48442, where we will line up at 12:30 and process to the pavilion for a 1:00 PM committal service featuring U.S. Army Military Honors. He was inducted into the U.S Army in 1960, served as part of the command and support unit in the 1st Mechanized Tank Battalion within the 33rd Armor Regiment in Germany and honorably discharged in 1962. He married Marian Wilkinson in Cincinnati, Ohio. They had 3 children. Greg, Shawna and Sidi. After moving to Detroit, Rani was born. He worked as tool and die man for Chrysler through the 60's and served in the auxiliary Police Department in Royal Oak Township. After an unsuccessful bid for Supervisor of Royal Oak Township, he moved his family to Washington D.C. to take a teaching job at Gallaudet College for the deaf and hard of hearing. He also manufactured tools for a medical research facility. Clay was somewhat of a "neighborhood" Dad. He was the father who could put the local kids in check at the drop of a hat. And when he barked, you listened! He was always the guy who looked out for others in the community. He was known as "the doctor" in his Senior high rise building where he lived because he would help older seniors with their medications, take their blood pressure and occasionally give them a ride to the bank or grocery store. He even worked as security for his building for a period. Everyone loved to see Clay. He always had a smile, a laugh and a good word when he showed up. His community misses him a great deal. His love of the Blues and R & B music was legendary. Playing the new Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes record over and over on a Saturday while the kids cleaned the house was a memory they won't soon forget. His service dog "Precious" was a loyal companion to Clay for 14 years. Clay was heartbroken when Precious passed away in June of 2024.
He attended Highland Park College and The University of Maryland He leaves to mourn his passing and cherish his memories, 3 children, Shawna (Ulysses) Jones, Sidi (Kim) Henderson, and Rani (Dennell) Hines; 13 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, Ben (Cherika) Bianca, Devon; Bryan (Dawn), Chloe, Nikko, Ethan; Robert (Morghen); Jenna (Delonte), Rory; Carmen, Jake, Rylie, Luke; Amanda (Dusty), Kailyn, Caleb; Heather, Madison; Taylor, Joe Jr., Sydney, Dennell Jr., Denzel, Tajon and Noel, and 10 great-grandchildren
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Obituary written by his family. Arrangements by SIMPLE FUNERALS (313-382-1181)
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