Bennie D. Henderson, Sr.

Funeral services for retired law enforcement officer Bennie David Henderson, 82, will be held Saturday, Jan. 14 at 12 p.m. in the Ott & Lee Funeral Home Chapel in Forest. Visitation will be held Friday, Jan. 13 from 6-8 p.m. and Saturday, Jan. 14 from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Rev. Jed Meredith will officiate. Interment will follow at Eastern Cemetery in Forest.

Henderson passed away on January 5, 2023, at the G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery Veterans Administration Hospital in Jackson, Mississippi, following a battle with cancer.

Born in 1940 in Jackson, Mississippi, he attended Minden High School and Delta State University. Bennie enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1958. While stationed in Illinois, he met the love of his life, Patricia Almeida of Rhode Island, and they married in 1959. They made their home in Mississippi.

After completing his military service, Bennie pursued a career in law enforcement that included stints as a municipal police officer in Forest and Cleveland, a Scott County deputy sheriff, and a Mississippi Department of Corrections officer at the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman. At 6’6” and 280 pounds, Bennie was particularly well-suited to protecting and serving as a sworn officer.

Despite guarding some of the state’s most hardened criminals, Bennie chose to treat inmates with decency and compassion to the extent possible. While at Parchman, he trained as a SWAT officer at the Federal Bureau of Investigation Academy in Quantico, VA.

Bennie accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior and he faced his battle with cancer with courage, faith, and hope.

Bennie is survived by his beloved sons, Frank Henderson (Theresa) of Brandon; and Brian Henderson of Carthage; grandchildren David Henderson, Victoria Henderson, Bryce Henderson, Cohen Henderson, and Kayla Seward; and great-grandchildren Brileigh Henderson, Anna Henderson, Carleigh Henderson, Cash Henderson, Brayden Lee Henderson, Bentley Cole Henderson, Brooklyn Maines, Madilyn Seward, and Travis Morgan.

Four loving siblings also survive him: Jeannette Bustin of Forest, Paul Henderson (Debbie) of Morton, Eddie Henderson (Melody) of Forest, and Leilani Salter (Sid) of Starkville.

Bennie was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 41 years, Patricia Almeida Henderson, his son Bennie David Henderson Jr., his grandson Michael Wayne Henderson, his parents, Benjamin and Willie Sue Henderson, and his brother Sam Henderson.

Pallbearers will be David Henderson, Bryce Henderson, Shane Henderson, Chad Henderson, Ethan Henderson, John Throne, Mark Watkins, Brock Pope, and Cole Pope.

To honor Bennie, please consider contributing to the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org., the Salvation Army at www.salvationarmy.org., or The Wounded Warrior Project at www.woundedwarriorproject.org., or the church or charity of your choice.

OTT & LEE Funeral Home of Forest is honored to serve the Henderson family.