HENDERSON FAMILY REUNION A STONE-COLD SUCCESS

Fun, storytelling, song, and gales of laughter heard across Texas
Hill Country


Eleven of the 16 living cousins of the Lamesa Henderson family gathered 
in Kerrville, Texas on February 11-13, 2005, for a first-ever reunion hosted
by witty, fun loving, effervescent Aunt Myrtle Steitle Henderson, at 88
the youngest and only surviving offspring of Frank and Eva Henderson. 
Most were accompanied by spouses, and three members of younger Henderson
generation enlivened the celebration. Five states were represented and 
cousins from two other states were unable to attend.    

After a Friday night feast at a catfish and shrimp restaurant, the reunion
kicked off on Saturday morning with Myrtle presenting a heart-warming and
humorous tribute to her parents, the grandparents of the attending cousins.
This was followed by an outstanding genealogy presentation by Jim Henderson
(son of Earl) focusing on the Henderson cousins' great-grandparents, John A.
and Martha Henderson. They were both born and grew up in Blount County,
Tennessee, but met and married in Missouri, and later moved to and lived
in central Texas during Civil War times and later.

Jim presented Aunt Myrtle and each cousin with a comprehensive, well-designed,
and illustrated booklet tracing the Henderson family history back to the early
1800s. Will White conducted a Henderson family trivia quiz. Patsy Henderson
Anderson (daughter of Hulon) won a hand-embroidered handkerchief made by her
great grandmother and runner-up Jim Henderson won his grandmother's eyeglasses.


The Reunion room was festooned with panels of family photos relating to each of
the original nine Henderson children, their spouses and offspring. Tables were
laid with family mementos of framed photos, family Bibles, wedding books, a
dress that been worn by Great- grandmother Martha Henderson and, somewhat
surprisingly, two pipes she once smoked. There were also documents, letters,
and poems, stories by the Henderson brothers and sisters, and even artwork by
Aunt Effie Henderson Roberts. Several humorous letters, written by Hulon to his
grandchildren and read by his daughter Patsy and his nephew Ray Neal (son of
Earl), dealt with the dreaded alligators of O'Donnell, Texas. We have not heard
the last of these marauding alligators.....(at least one hopes)


Saturday night concluded with a banquet, where family stories such as Willmon's
Lamesa "mail order bride" were related. This was followed by a spontaneous
get-together back in the Reunion Room, where Ron White performed humorous
ditties, folk tunes, and gospel songs on his guitar, led group sing-along, and
was spelled by Phil Jones, husband of Gerri (Earl's daughter) and
Theresa White (Will's daughter).  All this was interspersed by impromptu
storytelling of family memories, reasonably clean jokes, and hilarious ad-libs
enjoyed and contributed by many in attendance.

On the final morning, most of the group attended the Kerrville Baptist Church
with Aunt Myrtle and later enjoyed lunch at her home. All in all, the Henderson
clan was delighted with the warm spirit and family bonding of the occasion. All
were especially appreciative of the work and planning by Myrtle and Geraldine
Henderson Jones, who came all the way from Abilene to help with general arrangements,
food planning, decorations, and photo boards.


As one cousin put it: "We ought to do more of this and not just get together for
funerals." No further reunion plans have been announced as yet but don't be
surprised if it happens. The cousins agreed that stopping at just one reunion
would seem a shame, and definitely would not be a popular decision with the
O'Donnell alligators.


Attending the Reunion: Evalyn (daughter of Floyd Henderson) and husband James
Crouch of Terrell, Texas; Lena Faye (daughter of Lena Henderson Gent) and
husband Frank Adams of Corpus Christi, Texas and daughter Sandy of Rockwall,
Texas; Willmon White (son of Jewell Henderson White) and daughter
Theresa of Evanston, Illinois; Ron White (son of Jewell), wife Susan, and
daughter Laura and boyfriend Bryce of Fort Worth, Texas; Ray Neal Henderson(son
of Earl Henderson) and wife Katie of Las Cruces, N.M.; Daryl Henderson (son
of Earl), also of Las Cruces; Geraldine Henderson Jones (daughter of Earl) and
husband Phil of Abilene, Texas; Jim Henderson (son of Earl) and wife Laura of
Ashburn, Virginia; Ginger Henderson Adams (daughter of Hulon Henderson) and
husband Lloyd of El Dorado Hills, California; Patsy Henderson Anderson (daughter
of Hulon) of Magnolia, Texas; Eva Lee Henderson (daughter of Hulon)
and husband Shortes of Ackerly, Texas. 

Also attending part of the family festivities was Bill Adams, friend of Aunt 
Myrtle who lives in Kerrville.