Couple waits 70 years to renew Wedding Vows Traditionally!

Hello my name is Leah, I am writing to inform you of my parents, Mom, Claudine (BabyHoney) and Dad, LeRoy (Sonny) Henderson, Jr's up and coming 70th, Platnium, Anniversary on August 2, 2024. The Henderson's humble beginnings began in Mexia, Texas where they picked cotton, milked cows for consumption, studied their school lessons by oil lamps, lived without indoor plumbing, a telephone, a television, they cooked by a wood burning stove and drew their water from a well in which to live by; until they left home at 18 and 23 years old.

As the only child, Mom's mother passed away when she was three years old and thus was raised by her grandparents in a household full of cousins, aunts and uncles. Her grandfather, who was a Pastor and Profit, instilled in all of the children, Christlike values and principles, which she has lived by her entire life. Mom has passed those values on to her children and to anyone around her. I declare, the Lord shines so brightly through her, one cannot help but feel the warmth of love she emanates.

Dad was the eldest of two children; he had a Mom, Dad and sister. Dad's family was more introspective personalities, whereas Mom's was much more extroverted types of personalities. Both parents lived and were raised in Mexia, Texas. They went to grade school together, so they have known each other for all of their lives.

After Dad received permission from Mom's grandparents to court her, they fell in love. In 1953 Dad moved to California, then later sent for Mom. As Mom remained a virgin until they married, she was escorted from Texas by Dad's sister who also served as their only witness to marriage. On August 2, 1954 the Henderson's were married at Los Angeles' City Hall by the Justice of the Peace. Soon after, Dad joined the Air Force and the Henderson's were stationed from base to base as they grew their family to include seven children. Thankfully, Dad returned home to us after fighting in the Korean and Vietnam wars. Dad retired from the Air Force in 1974 then we homesteaded in Highland, California. Dad worked so hard to provide for his family that he retired twice more from Norton Air Force Base Exchange and Rotolo Chevrolet as a car delivery person at the age of 88. Mom also worked on the base as a cashier in the Commissary, then later as a Reserve Pay Clerk. She retired from Civil Service in 2003. Unfortunately, unbeknownst to her, the Civil Service job she worked did not pay into Social Security, therefore she is short four quarters and unable to receive SSI benefits. We remain prayerful.

The Henderson family has bloomed into 10 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren and 3 great great grandchildren; that's five living generations in our family. Mom and Dad never had a traditional wedding where the bride walks down the aisle to join her groom in holy matrimony. It is very rare to see couples married for this length of time after living through, jim crow, racism, Emmett Till, war, Watts riots, the Civil Rights movement, two Coronations, one Insurrection, many earthquakes and a bank robbery, to name just a few things.

The family has already paid for the venue which includes food but we have run out of money to pay for decorations, photography, dresses/tuxedos, the cake and rings. We have even trimmed the guest list down to the point of excluding the fourth and fifth generations attendance.

Please help us appreciate and celebrate Baby Honey and Sonny by gifting them something they have not seen nor done before. That is to attend their own traditional wedding where all generations may attend. Maybe they can even have a honeymoon this time around.

Mom and Dad still kiss one another when parting company, search for each other in a crowded room and they also still hold hands. This is a real life love story I believe humanity needs to witness and learn valued principles from. Come join in the jubilee celebration of the Henderson's Platnium Vow Renewal Anniversary. We intend to livestream the nuptials on a social media platform.

Thank You in advance for your kind and generous donations.

May God continue to bless you,

The entire Henderson Family.