Dr. Marylea Henderson

Marylea Henderson, 93, went to her forever Home Saturday, January 28th at Baylor Scott & White Hillcrest. She is with her Lord and seeing so many people who are in Heaven because of her. A graveside service will be held at the Coleman Cemetery in Coleman, Texas on Saturday, February 4th at 2pm. The Celebration of her Life will be Saturday, February 11th at 2pm at First Baptist Church of Hewitt.

Marylea was born in Coleman, Texas. She often told stories about growing up in Coleman and how her grandmother, Juanita, made such a difference in her life. She loved to tell about riding her pony to school when she was 6 and tying him to the bicycle rack while she was in class. She never lost her love for horses and later competed in barrel racing. Marylea graduated from Coleman High School, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Howard Payne, a Master of Science from the University of Oregon, a Master of Religious Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, a Doctor of Divinity from the India Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Education from Texas Tech University.

Marylea spent her life telling people about Jesus, helping when she saw a need and changing lives. She listened, learned and lifted people to a better place by encouraging them and giving them tools they needed to make good decisions. She had a gift for teaching and a love for workshops that gave thousands of people fun opportunities to learn how to be the best they could be. On mission trips to India, China, Uganda, Africa, Hungary, Israel and almost 30 other countries, she shared her faith. One of her favorite memories of her father was him inviting her to speak to his Sunday School class. She later taught in places in the world where women had never been allowed to teach.

Marylea taught sociology, social work, and education at several colleges and moved to Waco in 1976 where she taught at Paul Quinn College before beginning her career at McLennan Community College. As the Director of Special Services, she worked to create the Displaced Homemakers Department giving her the opportunity to help hundreds of people put their lives on track and go to school to become teachers, nurses, doctors….anything they wanted to be. In 2010, she became a success coach for the MCC nursing department and last year she considered retirement when she realized she was the oldest employee at the college. She served on the board of directors for several local ministries including Mission Waco and Friends for Life where she also served as chaplain.

Marylea is preceded in death by her daughter, Kay Wood; her daughter, Brenda Wood; her father, Clyde Michael Henderson; her mother, Audrey Lane Henderson; her grandfather, Charles Frederick Henderson; her grandmother, Pearl Foreman Henderson; her grandfather, John Tolbert Lane, her grandmother, Juanita Palmer Lane; and nephew, David Fritz.

She is survived by her daughter, Margaret Lane Ellis and husband, Bradley Ellis; her son, Don Wood; her sister, Patricia Fritz, her granddaughter, Renee Knutson; her grandson, John Dumas; her granddaughter, Lessa Ellis; her grandson, Christopher Ellis and wife, Melody; her grandson, Michael Ellis; her grandson, Thomas Ellis and wife, Sara; her grandson, Patrick Ellis, her nephew, Michael Fritz; her niece Anne Kieffer; her great niece Amanda Kieffer and her husband Josh; her great nephew, Solomon Kieffer; nine great grandchildren and one great-great niece.

Memorials may be made to Friends for Life, 5000 Lakewood Drive, Waco, TX. 76710 (www.friendsforlife.org) or McLennan Community College , 1400 College Drive, Waco, TX 76708 (www.mclennan.edu).

Stories of how she changed peoples’ lives are being collected to be included in a book about her. If you have a story, please send it with a picture (if you have one) to inez@friendsforlife.org.

You are invited to leave a message or memory on the “Tribute Wall” at www.WHBfamily.com.