Thelma Dorothy Reese Henderson was born in Bloomfield, new Jersey on July 18, 1928. She was the granddaughter of a farmer and the great-great-great granddaughter of a blacksmith. The family originated from modest roots in Virginia. They compensated for a lack of material possessions by establishing love, devotion, and dedication as the cornerstones of a strong family bond. Throughout her life, Thelma espoused those principles through precept and deed to both her immediate and extended family. The closeness of the Reese family was indeed the bedrock from which she based her role as a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend.
Thelma passed away at her home in Absecon, New Jersey on Tuesday, May 3, 2005 after a three-year battle with breast cancer. She was 76 years old.
This youngest child of Blanche Crowder and John David Reese was a devoted sister to her 12 older siblings. She enjoyed many hours at family events and celebrations. Thelma spent the early part of her childhood in Bloomfield, New Jersey, where the family settled upon relocation from Kenbridge, Virginia. She was educated in the Bloomfield school system and subsequently moved to Montclair.
In her youth, Thelma served on the Usher Board and was president of the Choir at Union Baptist Church in Bloomfield. She also served as Secretary of the Sunday School which she and her sister, Ida, helped to establish, for 25 years.
Thelma met the love of her life, John Henderson, at Union Baptist Church when she was in her early teens. They joined in marriage in 1948, and established a foundation for their own family based on love, respect, shared passions and mutual admiration. Thelma and John were a loving couple, and as a team they forged a partnership which endured for 57 years.
After their marriage, Thelma and John made their home in neighboring East Orange, where they raised four children: Lonnie Garry, Penny, Clipper and Cathy.
Thelma spent many hours working for the family-owned catering firms Wood Caterers and Reese Catering, where she was able to cultivate her skills in the expert preparation and presentation of sumptuous meals, and she enjoyed a fine reputation as a "food aficionado." She later worked in food services for LaBerto's Caterers at New Jersey Transit in Maplewood, New Jersey.
During her lifetime, Thelma displayed a love for flowers and the beauty of nature. Her innate talent and passion for horticulture was evident through the floral and landscaping displays that she created for her homes, and she was justifiably proud of the many compliments that she received from passersby. Her sensitive, kind, and generous spirit truly shined through in all of her creative endeavors, and she thrived on the nurturing, love, and support that she gave to and received from her family and friends.
Thelma and John retired to Absecon in 1992 for their love of the magnificent Atlantic Ocean and the nearby Atlantic City Boardwalk, where they enjoyed year-round daily walks up until the time of her illness.
Thelma is survived by her husband, John Henderson; two sons: Lonnie Garry Henderson, Sr. and Keith Henderson; two daughters: Penny Corum and Cathy Henderson; five grandchildren: Wendy, Kacey, and Lonnie G. Henderson, Jr, Corinne Abdus-Sabur, and Colleen Dyer; and six great-grandchildren: Chyna and Jayden Henderson, and Safee, Ameera, Madison, and Malik Abdus-Sabur.
