Mr. Joe Paul Henderson, founder of Henderson & Sons Funeral Home, age 89, 2 W. Mahan Street, Rome, passed away Friday morning, December 26, 2008, in a local hospital.

Mr. Henderson was born on Sand Mountain, Dekalb County, AL on June 10, 1919, son of the late George Macon Henderson and the late Rosalee Hamilton Henderson. He was also preceded in death by his step-mother, Lucille Tipton Henderson, by his first wife, Edna Garrett Henderson, by 2 sisters, Bonnie Henderson Ware and Grace Henderson Sisson, and by 3 brothers, Ralph Macon Henderson, Marvin Clifford Henderson, and Jackie Rufus Henderson.

Raised most of his early life in Lindale, Mr. Henderson was a product of the textile village community. He was employed in the Lindale Mill, farmed, assisted his father in the carpentry trade, and basically labored to meet the family needs. Early, he developed a love for music, especially the old gospel music. Drafted in the United States Army, he was inducted on April 24, 1941 at Fort McPherson, GA. Serving stateside for over a year, he served overseas during World War II in the 894th Tank Destroyer Battalion, logging over 600 days on the front line. Wounded in action, he was awarded the Purple Heart for injuries received in battle. He was honorably discharged on July 2, 1945 at Camp Gordon, GA, after having served overseas for nearly 3 years.

Upon his arrival back home to Lindale, he searched for his place in life. Following his love for music, he sang professionally for several years on the "Louisiana Hayride", an early version of today's Grand Ole Opry. On January 4, 1947, he married the former Edna Garrett from Lindale and his professional singing career was discontinued.

Mr. Henderson owned and operated several businesses in Rome and represented Singer Sewing Machine Company in management for a number of years. He continued his love for music, singing in numerous groups and quartets, mainly with his wife and brothers for many years. But it wasn't until he followed his calling that he found his place in life.

In early 1960, he acquired Landers-Frazier Funeral Home in Lindale with no previous experience in the profession. He, with his partner, Red Frazier, founded Henderson-Frazier Funeral Home. Shortly after receiving his funeral director's license on January 18, 1965, he acquired the remainder of the funeral home. Henderson & Sons Funeral Home continues today and he continued his leadership until his late illness. He always felt God called him to be a funeral director.

Mr. Henderson was a member of the Park Avenue Baptist Church but has recently been attending the Pleasant Valley South Baptist Church. He was a life member of the American Legion Post #136 in Lindale, was a member of the Disabled American Veterans, and the Military Order of the Purple Heart.

Survivors include his wife, the former Rosalyn Hopkins, to whom he was married on July 11, 1992; 2 sons, Joe Paul Henderson, II, Alpharetta, and Barry R. Henderson, and his wife, Nancy, Aragon; 3 step children, James M. (Jimmy) Hopkins, III, and his wife, Barbara, Aragon, Michael E. Hopkins, and his wife, Deborah, Rome, and Mrs. Sherri Hopkins Gibbs, and her husband, Tom, Ft. Payne, AL; 4 grandchildren, Wesley Macon Henderson, Athens, Garrett Nelson Henderson, Tuscaloosa, AL, Claire Rebecca Henderson, Cumming, and Paula Corinne Henderson, Cumming; 5 step-grandchildren, Sam, Seth, and Simon Hopkins, all of Rome, and Avery and Lauren Gibbs, both of Ft. Payne, AL; 3 sisters, Mrs. Ruth Henderson Roach, Rome, Mrs. Evelyn Henderson Tillery, Lindale, and Mrs. Lila Henderson Callaway Youngblood, and her husband, Charlie, Port Charlotte, FL; many nieces and nephews, who he loved as his own, also survive.

A celebration of life will be held on Monday, December 29, 2008, at 7pm at the Pleasant Valley South Baptist Church with his pastor, Dr. Philip May and the Rev. Floyd Battles, Sr. officiating. His son, Barry Henderson will deliver the eulogy. Private interment will follow on Tuesday in Rome Memorial Park. The American Legion Post #5 Honor Guard will present military honors immediately following the service at the church.

The family will receive friends at Henderson & Sons Funeral Home on Sunday from 3 until 7pm, and on Monday from 1 until 4pm. At other hours, they may be contacted at the residence.

The family respectfully requests no floral tributes. Memorials may be made to Heyman HospiceCare at Floyd Medical Center, P. O. Box 163, Rome, GA 30162-0163, or to the Gideon's Memorial Bible Program, c/o Lamar Sims, P. O. Box 281, Lindale, GA 30147.

Henderson & Sons Funeral Home has charge of the funeral arrangements.