History

Our Founder: Aaron Carl Henderson (1919-2008) 

An Embalmer's Hands 

God gave us hands to use for him, to use in different ways. Doctors use their hands to bring life into the world and to maintain life as long as possible. Artists use their hands to capture life on canvas. Authors write of life with it's joys and heartaches. Sculptors use their hands to give hope to their creative ideas. 

But you, the embalmer, take that from which life has gone, and attempt to work miracles, and you do! You have no life with which to work, but you are expected to make your masterpiece lifelike. Family and friends pass by and inspect your work, not knowing how many hours were spent, nor understanding the agonizing of the heart that went into the masterpiece which you created. 

You know that in a few short hours your masterpiece will return to mother earth, never again to be viewed by mortal eyes. Yet you must go on, another day, another masterpiece. You cannot rise in the morning and say, "I think I will write another chapter in my book today" or "I think I will work on my picture today." 

When you rise, you can say, "God gave me hands and a job to do. Today I am going to take that which authors write about, artists paint, and doctors work hard to keep alive. I am going to create another masterpiece today." 
Together, God and I. Yes, my masterpiece will return to mother earth, but God's masterpiece, man's soul, can live forever. 

I am an Embalmer, using my hands for God.

Our Beginnings 

After graduating the Cincinnati College of Embalming in the spring of 1947, A.C. Henderson returned to the Hope area. He secured charter and licensure to open Henderson-Marks Funeral Home along with Mr. Will Marks. Henderson-Marks was the first African American funeral home in the Columbia County area. 

Later, Mr. Henderson established the Henderson's Mortuary, beginning on the corner of Washington and Haynesville Streets, then moving to 115 Haynesville Street, and later to its present location at 614 Calhoun Rd, Magnolia. 

Holding dual licensure for Louisiana as well as Arkansas over the course of his fifty odd years of service, Mr. Henderson was an inspiration to many student embalmers and funeral directors. He encouraged all to bring only the highest standard of expertise to their work or not do it at all. He was always willing to share with any who cared to listen that belief in God and one's self could move mountains. Mr. Henderson set a standard for his staff for restoration and peaceful appearance that continues to this day. 

Our Values 

The foremost tenet of the Henderson's Mortuary is undeniably the importance of honoring the family unit. In honoring our families, we honor God. We will always endeavor to treat each family that we serve fairly and with respect and compassion. 

"But, as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Joshua 24:15 

Mrs. Gertrude Towns Henderson