Irene Henderson

Irene Henderson was called home to be with Our Lord on Saturday, May 20, 2017, after a courageous life of living with numerous chronic health issues.
Born on September 15, 1948, in Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, she was the daughter of the late Colonel Lykes S. and Ruth Moyer Henderson. As a dependent of a military family, she grew up overseas, most notably in Spain and Japan. When her father retired from the United States Air Force, the family returned to his hometown of Clinton.
Miss Henderson graduated from Clinton High School in 1966. She received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Winthrop College in 1970. She also held a Master of Education Degree from the University of South Carolina in Columbia and completed advanced graduate studies in Education through the University of Virginia.
Miss Henderson began her teaching career in 1972 as a Fifth and Sixth Grade English Teacher in Summerville, SC. She then taught Seventh Grade English in Swansea, SC. In 1980, she moved to Warrenton, Virginia, where she taught Eighth Grade English for 17 years in Bealeton, Virginia. Miss Henderson returned home to Clinton in 1997 and taught High School Spanish and Ninth Grade English at Ware Shoals High School.
Miss Henderson was a devoted teacher who inspired her students to want to learn. She retired in 2003, after 31 years of teaching. Throughout those years, Miss Henderson was an active sponsor and team leader of school yearbooks, literary magazines, newsletters, along with serving on various planning committees. She was a voted Teacher of the Year in 1978 and Who’s Who in Educators of America during two separate years. She was a multiple year honoree in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers. Throughout many of these years, she suffered with chronic diseases, but never gave up.
In 2008, Miss Henderson lost her sight. Once again, she persevered and made every attempt to continue to help her family, friends, and all those she met. Strong in her faith, Miss Henderson was always humble and always made time to listen, to encourage, and to help those in need. She loved and was always generous to her family and friends. She also loved her Silver Sneaker class at the Clinton Y.
Miss Henderson was predeceased by her three brothers: Noland, Lewis, and Lykes Henderson. Miss Henderson leaves one sister, Carolyn Hollingsworth; nieces, Tracey (Lance) Williams and their sons, Bill and Robert, of Cross Hill; Jan (Richard) Ridlehuber and their children, Will, Anna Grace, and Carolyn, of Spartanburg; nephews, Carter (Xiao Xiao), Shelton (Mary), and Thomas (Jessica) Henderson and their daughter, Cathy, of Greenville; and sisters-in-law, Susan Henderson of Clinton, and Kitty Henderson of Columbia.
A celebration of Miss Henderson’s life will be held at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Clinton on Thursday, May 25, 2017, at 3:00 PM.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Clinton Family YMCA, P.O. Box 492, Clinton, SC 29325; to Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1387 Hwy 56 S, Clinton, SC 29325; or to Hospice of Laurens County, P. O. Box 178, Clinton, SC 29325.