Ressie Lee Henderson's Obituary
June 19, 1936 was a hot day in Gibsland, Louisiana. The Lord decided it was time to send Francis and Arthur Lewis a blessing with a beautiful baby girl named Ressie Lee. She was the baby daughter of eight children. Her siblings, John D. Lewis, Robert Lewis, Hosea Lewis, Henry Lewis, and Nellie Lewis, all preceded her in death. Left to mourn Ressie are her brother, Arthur Lewis; sister, Verleen Decatur; daughter, Debra Lee Henderson-Cardone; son, Frederick Lee Henderson; and grandsons, Dante Lee Cardone, and Frederick Henderson, Jr. She also leaves behind a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Ressie and her family moved to California in 1942, where she lived in South Berkeley and attended elementary school. Ressie was a talented student, and she enjoyed singing in the choir, drawing, painting, and she also had a passion for styling her doll’s hair.
At the age of nine, she united with the Liberty Hill Baptist Church where her father was a member of the Deacon Board. When her parents purchased a home in Richmond, California, she attended Stege Elementary School. Later, she attended El Cerrito High School and earned her diploma at Adult School at Berkeley High. In 1952, she graduated from Cosmetology School in Richmond, California. In addition, she attended the California College of Arts and Crafts where she majored in Fine Arts.
Ressie met and married Charles Henderson in 1952, and after a 20-year marriage she divorced and never remarried.
She was extremely multifaceted and entrepreneurial. She owned a day-care center, hair salon, and a clean and sober transitional home. In addition, Ressie taught Cosmetology at Laney College, El Camino College, and the International College of Cosmetology in Oakland. She also taught art and sculpture classes at the South Berkeley Senior Center.
Ressie was a young teenage mother and the most important thing in her life was her love for her daughter, grandsons, and son. Because she was a young mother, her daughter felt they were more like sisters. She loved traveling with her daughter and grandson to Paris, Puerto Rico, Yosemite, and on many family outings. In fact, when her daughter relocated to Southern California and became a single mother, Ressie joined her daughter and assisted in raising her grandson, Dante.
Friday afternoon, on July 17th, 2020, the Lord knew Ressie was tired of her life’s journey and He entered her room at John Muir Hospital and very gently took her into eternity to join the angels and her parents, brothers, and sister.
To ensure the health and safety of our community, we are following all guidelines set by local, state and CDC officials. If you are planning on attending a service, please contact the funeral home in advance, so that we can plan accordingly.
Below is the recording of the funeral services Please feel free to watch below.
https://vimeo.com/443258538
Password: RLH19362020
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