Captain Ben Henderson was a 27 year veteran of the Atlanta Police Department. Captain Henderson is survived by a son, Kevin L. Henderson (Tonya); a daughter Melinda A. Henderson; a granddaughter, Kailyn A. Hylton; a grandson, Kelon D. Henderson; his parents, Benjamin and Louisiana Henderson, Sr; a brother, Robert Henderson (Gwendolyn); two sisters, Minnie M. Taylor (William) and Annie M. Stublefield; one sister-in-law, Collistine Henderson; two aunts, Lilian Slaughter and Lee Ethel Tillman(J. W.); two uncles, Oscar L. Carter and Wayman Carter (Mable); five in-laws, George A. Parham; Ida M. Parham; Arlene White (David); Doris Murray (Walter); Joanne Parham; one special friend, Douglas Winn; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Mr. Henderson, was born March 23, 1941, in Cuthbert, Georgia to Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin and Louisiana Henderson, Sr. Mr. Henderson first attended C.L. Archer High School and later attended W. H. Fountain High School in Forest Park, Georgia, where he excelled in academics and showed great athletic ability in football. After graduation he enlisted in the United States Air Force, where he spent eight years. During this time, he met and married Lenorris Parham of Newport News, Virginia. After serving his country, Mr. Henderson decided to move back to Atlanta. Mr. Henderson accepted his first assignment as an Atlanta Police Officer in 1967. He worked in the city’s jail system and was later reassigned as a foot patrolman. During this time he accepted a position as the city’s first African American motorcycle patrolman, integrating the city’s motorcycle patrol division. Patrolman Henderson was promoted to detective one year later in the department’s criminal investigation unit. Always being one that understood that education could open any locked door, Detective Henderson enrolled in night courses at Atlanta Metropolitan Junior College, where he later attained an Associate of Arts degree in Criminal Justice. After receiving his degree,Detective Henderson thought it was time for a new challenge. He took and passed the Sergeant’s examination and was immediately selected as a Sector Commander in the Atlanta Police Department’s, now infamous, Zone 3. Mr. Henderson rose through the ranks of the Atlanta Police Department quickly and in 1985, Sergeant Henderson was promoted to Lieutenant, becoming the watch commander in Zone 3. Within a short period of time, Lieutenant Henderson challenged himself again by becoming a commanding officer within a specialized detective unit that was assigned to the Atlanta Public School System. After several years in this position, he decided it would be a great opportunity to train and develop newly sworn officers. This position allowed him to really shape and mold young officers into good civil servants for the city of Atlanta. While at the Atlanta Police Academy, he was awarded many awards by both his peers and his superior officers, including then Assistant Chief of Police, Mrs. Beverly Harvard. Lieutenant Henderson continued his illustrious career as the newly appointed Captain of Zone 2 in 1992. He retired in 1994 as a commander in the detective unit where he had worked so diligently years before.
Funeral Services will be held Saturday, April 12, 2008, 11:00AM at Stronghold Christian Church, 724 Rock Chapel Rd, Lithonia, with remains placed in state at 9:30AM. Reverend William Gaither, Pastor. Reverend Jesse G. Gordon, Officiating. Reverend William D. Taylor, Eulogist. Interment Kennedy Memorial Gardens, Ellenwood, GA. The family will receive friends this evening (Friday) from 7:00PM until 8:00PM at Eastlake United Methodist Church, 2500 Hosea Williams Drive, N. E. Family and friends are asked to assemble at 1663 Fredricksberg Drive, Loganville, GA, at 9:30AM. Donald Trimble Mortuary, Inc., 1876 Second Avenue, (404) 371-0772-3. CAPTAIN BEN HENDERSON, JR.