Retha Henderson of Columbus, Mississippi

March 31, 1934 - July 29, 2019

Retha Jane Hand Henderson, 85, died Monday, July 29, 2019 at South Hampton Nursing Facility in Owens Cross Roads, AL. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Memorial Gunter Peel Funeral Home & Crematory, 2 ^nd Avenue North location. Services will be Friday, August 2, 2019 at 11:00 at First Baptist Church with Dr. Shawn Parker officiating. Visitation will be one hour before the service. Interment will immediately follow in Friendship Cemetery.

One of four children of the late George Lofton and Velma Clay Hand, Mrs. Henderson was born March 31, 1934 in Meridian, MS. She grew up on a cotton farm in Collinsville, MS and graduated from Collinsville High School, where she played basketball. She continued playing basketball at East MS Community College. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Education from the University of Southern Mississippi and her Master’s Degree in Education from Mississippi University for Women. After a teaching career  in Louisiana and Mississippi, she  joined her late husband Robert Clark Henderson in his insurance agency as agents for Shelter Insurance. She excelled in this field and loved seeing her former clients after she had retired.

The Hendersons moved to Columbus in 1969, and Mrs. Henderson absolutely fell in love with her beloved Columbus. She took great pride in her city and state and always boasted about her hometown. For several years during the Columbus Pilgrimage, she entertained guests by playing the piano as they entered the Pilgrimage home. She was a member of First Baptist and loved her church. She was a member of Koinonia Sunday School class, participated in Watchman prayer ministry and served in numerous other capacities through the years.  She served as a docent at the Lee Home, was a member of Four Seasons Garden Club and the Columbus Country Club, participating in numerous ladies’ golf tournaments and playing twilight golf with her husband. On October 20, 2006 she was inducted into the Mississippi  Community College Sports Hall of Fame for women's basketball (1952-1954). In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her siblings and their spouses Othell Hand (Martha), Genell Hand Secreat (Rea), Ivan Hand (Margie) and her brothers-in-law and their spouses Albert Henderson (Millie) and Willie Rogers (Ruth).

Mrs. Henderson is survived by her two daughters and sons-in-law Robin Henderson Allers and George, Auburn, AL and Renee' Henderson Tibbs and Jay, Huntsville, AL. She is also survived by six grandchildren Taylor Price Bishop (Stephen), Ryan Price, and Lauren Price, all of Auburn, AL, Jason Tibbs (Erin)  Huntsville, AL, Josh Tibbs (Elizabeth Ann) and Robert Clark Tibbs, all of Birmingham, AL and two great grandchildren Maddy Blake Bishop and Magnolia Blair Bishop.

Pallbearers will be her grandsons and grandsons-in-law Jason Tibbs, Josh Tibbs, Clark Tibbs, Ryan Price, and Stephen Bishop. Honorary pallbearers will be John Allers, Johnny Latham, Bill Heath and Sam Bray.

The family wishes to thank Thrive At Jones Farm Assisted Living in Huntsville, South Hampton Nursing & Rehab Center in Owens Cross Roads, and Kindred Hospice, Huntsville, for their loving care as well as her  caregivers prior to Mrs. Henderson leaving Columbus.

Memorials may be made to Love-in-Deed or The Crossing, c/o First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 829, Columbus, MS 39703.