Crystal Juanita Henderson

Ms. Crystal Juanita Henderson made her transition on November 10th, 2022. Please encourage the Henderson family with words of love and encouragement on our Tribute page. To send flowers, or a memorial gift, to the family of Crystal Henderson please visit our Sympathy Store. Zoom Instructions For Livestream 1. Go to Kempfuneralhome.com. 2. Click on your loved one’s photo or use the search bar and type in your loved one’s name. 3. You are now on their Tribute Page. 4. You should see a tab labeled photo & videos (or it may be labeled media, depending on your device). Select that tab. 5. Just before the service starts, you will see an icon labeled Webcast (or it may be labeled external video, depending on your device). Select the icon. 6. You will begin to launch into the zoom meeting. Crystal Juanita Henderson was born on October 14, 1943 in Richmond, Virginia to the late Rev. Anderson Benjamin Chavis and Williette Harrell. She was one of four siblings. During her early childhood, she and her parents migrated to Detroit, MI in 1947, where she would spend the rest of her life. She was educated in the Detroit Public School system, graduating from Keating Elementary School in June 1956, Foch Junior High School in June 1958, and the High School of Commerce in June of 1961. During her high school years, she had a co-operative training job as a Records Clerk at Michigan Medical Service from February 1960 to June 1961. On this job, she received excellent ratings in attendance, attitude, cooperation, and work habits. Upon graduation she earned a certification in Medical Secretarial Training from the University of Detroit’s Institute for Business Service. During her teen years, she was also active in social circles and was a beautiful debutante. Crystal accepted Christ at a very young age. She was active in East Lake Baptist Church where her father served as associate minister and later as interim pastor. While at East Lake Baptist Church, she sang in the Gospel Chorus—a well-known choir that performed concerts in the church and in many venues throughout the city. She loved singing gospel songs and remembered lyrics to many gospel songs and hymns throughout her life. As a young adult, she met and married George Ralph Henderson on December 4, 1965. They were blessed with two children, Terrence Albert and Maurice Sean. After spending a short time as a medical secretary, she started her employment with the Detroit Police Department in the late 1960s until her retirement in May 1995. She served as secretary for numerous Deputy Police Chiefs at various precincts and police headquarters. She excelled in office administration skills with great proficiency in shorthand, which set her apart from other office and clerical workers. She was a member of the AFSCME union and maintained her membership in the Detroit Retired City Employees Association throughout her retirement. In the mid-1970’s, Crystal’s son Maurice, who was baptized at East Lake Baptist Church, started walking up the street to the neighborhood church on the corner of their street. Crystal and their entire family eventually joined Immanuel Lutheran Church. Crystal was very active in the church choir, women’s auxiliary, and Church Council. She attended numerous church retreats on behalf of the church. She became a part-time volunteer by regularly completing secretarial tasks and financial bookkeeping for the church. For lack of a better title, she served as a guardian for the church by having a key to the church and opening and closing the church on various occasions and emergencies. God called Crystal home to be with Him and her other beloved family members on November 10, 2022. She was preceded in death by her mother, father, and brother Anderson Jr. She leaves to celebrate her life of victory to: her husband, George R.; two sons, Terrence A. and Maurice S.; two grandchildren, Na’Tashia Nicole and Durand Lee (Troya); two great-grandchildren Zahara Amaree Akira and Josiah Gabriel Amir; two sisters, Edith Newsome and Andrea Vanias; two nephews Tony Vanias and Marco Chavis; one niece, Lisa Vanias; a host of cousins, and many loving family and friends. In Lieu of Flowers, please make donations to the following charities: Running Strong for American Indian Youth 8301 Richmond Highway Ste. 200 Alexandria, VA 22309 Toll Free: 1-888-491-9859 (703) 317-9881 | Fax: (703) 659-6231 https://indianyouth.org/ Email: info@indianyouth.org Donation link: https://indianyouth.org/give/ Boys Town PO Box 8000 Boys Town, NE 68010 800-217-3700 https://www.boystown.org Email: helpkids@hope.boystown.org Donation link: https://support.boystown.org/site/Donation2?df_id=2280&2280.donation=form1&mfc_pref=T&_gl=1*1jkacoa*_ga*MTMxNjMzNDA1NC4xNjY4NTM2ODUx*_ga_LR5Y032XEE*MTY2ODUzNjg1MS4xLjEuMTY2ODUzNzAxOS4wLjAuMA.. National Museum of African-American History & Culture 1400 Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC 20560 844.750.3012 https://nmaahc.si.edu/ Email: NMAAHCinfo@si.edu Donation link: https://nmaahc.si.edu/connect/ways-give

Crystal Juanita Henderson

October 14, 1943 - November 10, 2022