Juanita Henderson

Aug. 31, 1924 – June 8, 2019

Lois Juanita Buys Henderson slipped from her earthly life on Saturday, June 8, at age 94, and stepped into eternal life in Heaven in the presence of her precious Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. Juanita, the daughter of Tom and Beatrice Tompkins Buys, was born in Pemiscot County on Aug. 31, 1924. A 1942 valedictorian graduate of Wardell High School, she lived most of her life in Pemiscot and New Madrid counties, including most of her adult life in Portageville, Mo. She married William Riley "Bill" Henderson, her high school sweetheart and love of her life, on Sept. 27, 1942.

A dedicated Christian and longtime member of First Baptist Church of Portageville, Juanita professed her personal faith in Jesus Christ on April 7, 1940, at age 15. Her favorite Scripture passage and the first verse she ever memorized was Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthened me." She faithfully served as a Woman's Missionary Union associational director, Sunday School teacher, Vacation Bible School leader and adult choir member.

Juanita and Bill were the parents of six children: Leatrice (and Bob) Klutts of Sherwood, Ark.; Aleta (and Doug) Janzen of Raymore, Mo.; Danny (and Anne) Henderson of Sugar Hill, Ga.; Wanda (and Leman) Reed of Warrensburg, Mo.; Gayla (and Don) Massey of Benton, Ark.; and Trennis (and Pam) Henderson, traveling national correspondents formerly of Arkadelphia, Ark.

In addition to her roles as a wife, mother and homemaker, Juanita held several jobs over the years, including co-managing a Montgomery Ward catalog store in downtown Portageville with her husband, working as a ward clerk at Pemiscot County Memorial Hospital, serving as a bus driver and aide for special needs children and serving as a houseparent at the Missouri Baptist Children's Home in Bridgeton, Mo.

Her hobbies included sewing, quilting, gardening, camping and travel, including memorable trips to the Holy Land, Europe and Alaska.

In handwritten memoirs presented to each of her grandchildren, Juanita wrote that what she valued most in life was "my relationship with God and seeking to do His will in all things." She defined true success in life as: "The world is a better place because of you having lived."

She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband of 37 years as well as by her sister, Margaret McCrary; daughter, Gayla Massey; son-in-law, Lee Lewis; and grandson, Brad Henderson. She is survived by three daughters, two sons, 12 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren and her youngest great-grandchild due later this month.

A memorial service will be held Wednesday, June 12, at 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church of Portageville. Visitation will be held at the church from 9 to 11 a.m. prior to the service.

Funeral services provided by DeLisle Funeral Home of Portageville.

In honor of Juanita's ministry and missions passion, memorial gifts may be made to First Baptist Church, 608 DeLisle Ave., Portageville, M0 63873; the Missouri Baptist Children's Home, 11300 St. Charles Rock Road, Bridgeton, MO 63044; or the National Woman's Missionary Union Foundation, 100 Missionary Ridge, Birmingham, AL 35242