James Thomas Henry, Sr. was born to Walter Raleigh and Annie Lou Flake Henry on August 1, 1915. He was their third child of ten children, and the second son. His older brother, John, left for heaven before James was born so he has always been known as the oldest boy of the surviving children. His siblings were Edna, John, (James was next), Alice, Walter Jr., George, Rachel, Zachary, Harold and Lou. He grew up in the Stockbridge community except for a some years spent in Taylor County ,due to the boll weevil decimating the cotton crop in middle Georgia where his family's home was in Henry County. They returned to Stockbridge after about ten years.On August 28, 1939, he married Mary Catherine Johnson from the Noah's Ark community, which was located maybe five miles from the Walter & Annie Lou Henry family home on Rock Quarry Road near what is now Piedmont Henry Hospital entrance. James and Mary bought a homestead on Gardner Road and called this home for the remainder of Mary's life and until James had to go into Assisted Living about three years prior to his death in 2011. They raised six children, Ann, Bob, Peggy, Jim Jr., Catherine and Beth. James worked as a Registered Land Surveyor surveying much of Henry and Dekalb and several other counties over his tenure in active work. He was a well respected man who had a depth of wisdom not often found in this day and age. He was not a college graduate as the remainder of his siblings later were, but not many could hold a candle to his knowledge in broad areas. He loved this country and was an active member of the Republican Party of Henry County, who also claimed the honor of being Henry County's first elected Republican official when he served as Justice of the Peace. He served in many County, District and State Committees. He loved His Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He served Him until his dying day. He had a stroke and had to be hospitalized then in a nursing home for two and a half years in the late 1990's. He told me and others, that after he realized he was going to survive the stroke, he asked the Lord what he needed to be about and he realized He just needed to walk the halls of that nursing home which was very lonely for many of its residents and share a little of Jesus love by bringing a smile and however else he could encourage folks. He was able to return to his beloved home to live alone for several more years after those 2 plus years. He loved to talk and often could talk your ear off. He could be a 'handful' as I often said and could make one aggravated or even angry with his strong beliefs and opinions but he was a true man of character and morals. I often disagreed with him but loved Him and knew he loved his family and me as a daughter in law. I am blessed to be married to his namesake son and to have born another namesake for him as well as another grandson for him. James and Mary had a total of thirteen grandchildren, David, Lynn, Ellie, Susan, Vernita, Cassondra, Clinton, Jim III, Brian, Cora, Raleigh, Sean and Liesel. Twelve Great Grandchildren to date include Lindsey, Michael, Brianna, Chandler, Nathan, Micah, Annabeth, Talia, Melody, Tabitha, Allision, Kiley and Joshua. He left a fine heritage I pray one day they can all truly appreciate. If you did not know him, you missed a rare treat. Written by his daughter in law, Eugenia Milner Henry (at one time I could not have written this but with a few years perspective, I pray it is both accurate and I believe it to be true in every way.