Douglas Selph Henry

1926 - 2017

Senator Douglas Selph Henry

Nashville, TN

Douglas Selph Henry passed away quietly at home yesterday evening surrounded by his family. He was born May 18, 1926 to Kathryn and Douglas Henry. He is preceded in death by Loiette Hume Henry, his wife of 67 years, his daughter Emily McMahon, and granddaughter Cate Blount. A proud native Nashvillian, he attended The Parmer School, Wallace School and the McCallie School in Chattanooga. He served as a First Lieutenant in the Field Artillery of the Untied States Army during World War II before taking up studies at Vanderbilt University.

At the age of 17, he recognized his obligation to federal service and enlisted in the army during World War II. Upon his discharge, he attended Vanderbilt University and pursued a degree in classical French, Greek, and Latin and earned a degree in law. After practicing law for a short while, he served a 2 year term in the House of Representatives. Soon after he was recruited by his father to work as an attorney in the family business at National Life Accident and Insurance Company. His interest in government and the desire to help others never waivered, and that ultimately motivated him to secure the office of State Senator for the 21st district of Tennessee.

Since then he has served as a guardian to some of Tennessee's greatest treasures such as the conservation of Radnor Lake, support of the Tennessee State Museum, and the monitoring of state finances as chairman of the Tennessee State Finance, Ways and Means Committee.

In addition, he has helped single mothers, children, mentally ill, and the elderly by constantly ensuring that they are not mistreated. He has watched state spending while doing everything possible to maintain the states credit rating. He has been a sponsor of Child abuse reporting and also implemented a Revenue fluctuation reserve which required the state to put up a reserve for future revenue drops. He served on the Fiscal Review Committee, the General Welfare and Human Resources Committee, the Tennessee Commission on Inter-Governmental Relations, and served as Chairman of the Capital Commission.

Douglas Henry served as Chairman of the Southern Legislative Conference and the Council of World Regions. Some of his many and diverse community involvements included the YMCA, the Tennessee Historical Society, the Tennessee State Museum Foundation,Tennessee Foreign Language Institute, Kiwanis Club, American Legion Post 5, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Great Wars Commission, Sons of the American Revolution, and The Law and Justice Institution in Washington, D.C..

He is survived by his children: Loiette Henry Thompson, Kathryn Henry-Choisser; Robert Selph Henry (Traci); Mary Leland Henry Wehner; and Douglas Cornelius Hume Henry (Ashley); his grandchildren: Corrine Cook (Lewis); Marty Clark (Sheila); Drew McMahon; Sarah Kathryn Thompson; Martin Thompson; Henry Choisser; Leland Henry; Sam Henry; Jack Kinloch; Camille Kinloch; Wallace Kinloch; C.H. Henry; and Middleton Henry; many great-grandchildren; his sister Margaret (Peggy) Henry Joyce.

The family is eternally grateful for the wonderful care that Sen. and Mrs. Henry received from their caregivers Sharletta Jackson, Virginia Longmire, Nancy Pitts, Donna Oquendo and especially for the amazing devotion shown by Mary Parker Johnson.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, March 9, 2017 from 10-12 and from 2-6 pm at the Tennessee State Capitol. The service will be held on Friday, March 10, 2017 at 11:00 am at The Downtown Presbyterian Church, 154 5th Avenue North 27219. A photo ID will be necessary for the visitation. Parking for the visitation at the Capitol will be at the State Employee lot 17A+ 17B on Charlotte Ave. at 8th Avenue North where a shuttle is available. In lieu of flowers, a memorial contribution may be made to The Downtown Presbyterian Church.