RET Major Kenneth Sherwin Henderson

Kenneth Sherwin Henderson was born on October 25, 1946, to Mary Lee (Wilson) and John Rufus Henderson, Sr., in Ruston, Louisiana. He was raised in Chatham and baptized at an early age. He met the love of his life, Gwendolyn Cunningham, when he was 7 and she was 6 years of age at a church social; they later became high school sweethearts. Kenneth graduated in 1964 as the valedictorian of Jasper Henderson High School, which was named for his grandfather.
Kenneth began attending Southern University in 1964. During his college years, he pledged Omega Psi Phi (1966) and enrolled in ROTC. He earned a bachelor's degree in political science and graduated with Gwen, who had also attended SU and finished her degree within 3 years, in May 1968. They married on August 3rd of that same year.
After attending the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Kenneth became a commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Reserve Corps. He was later commissioned as a regular officer and deployed to Vietnam to serve his country. He served at several duty stations during his military career: Vietnam, Fort Polk (LA), Fort Lee (VA, twice), Patrick Air Force Base (FL), in Germany (twice), and Washington, DC. He won numerous medals, including the Bronze Star for his meritorious service in the Vietnam War.
When he returned home from Vietnam, his first daughter, Kerry, was born in Germany in 1970. While the family was stationed at Fort Lee, VA, Katrina was born in 1974. The baby of the family, Kasey, was born in 1982 during a second tour in Germany.
The Henderson Family ("Ken, Gwen, and The Girls") moved from Germany to Petersburg in September of 1983. They were warmly welcomed to Zion Baptist Church and became members in 1984. Kenneth was active in the church and served as an assistant Boy Scout Leader, worked with the male youth ushers, served on the Trustee and Finance Boards, and acted as a member of the Giles B. Evans Memorial Group for over 40 years. He also served the community of Petersburg by participating as a member of Concerned Black Men.
After serving in the military for 20 years, Kenneth retired from the army as a major. He then worked at Southside VA Training Center as the food service director. The facility he headed also served Central State Hospital patients. He worked there for over 24 years.
When Kenneth retired in 2013, he relished the additional time he had with family and friends. He enjoyed reading, and he set aside time to read the Bible in its entirety each year. One of the main highlights of his day was sharing scriptures with family and friends in texts and during phone calls. He also enjoyed cooking, traveling, and sports. A favorite pastime was assigning articles to his daughters and discussing them in detail. He valued fellowship with people, helping others, conversations that made him think, and good food.
He is preceded in death by his parents, John and Mary Henderson; his brothers, Michael and John, Jr.; and his sister, Ruth Henderson Adams. Kenneth peacefully went to be with the Lord on Sunday, July 20, 2025. He is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Gwen Henderson; daughters, Kerry Saunders (Alonza), and Katrina and Kasey Henderson; granddaughters, Pearre Henderson and Mikayla Saunders; sister, Ethel Brown of Louisiana; nieces, Patricia Adams of Georgia and Nicole Bruce of Louisiana; and nephews, Lynn Henderson of Colorado and Terry Brown of Tennessee; grandnephews, a grandniece, and a host of cousins and friends.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 12 noon, Friday, August 1, 2025 at Zion Baptist Church, 225 Byrne Street, Petersburg, Interim Pastor, Rev. Delano Douglas, officiating and Rev. Odis Walker, eulogizing. Interment will follow in Dinwiddie Memorial Park, Dinwiddie, VA. Public visitation will be held from 10am-8pm, Thursday, July 31, 2025 at the funeral home. The family will receive friends from 6pm-8pm that evening as well.
In lieu of flowers, the Henderson Family asks that you consider making a donation to the ALS Association in his honor. Donations can be made directly at: https://www.als.org Thank you in advance for your support.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Petersburg Chapel of Bland Funeral Homes, 137 Harrison St., 804.732.7841. www.blandfuneralhomes.com To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of US Army RET Major Kenneth, please visit our Tree Store.