James Edwin "Mack" Henderson Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

James Edwin “Mack” Henderson Community leader, businessman, beloved father, grandfather and great-grandfather passed from this earth on Friday, July 8, 2022. He was a devoted Roman Catholic with a love for all faiths. Mack was born in Atlanta on April 11, 1928. He grew up in West End, and lived in the Atlanta area his entire life. He graduated from Marist High School in 1946 and Oglethorpe University in 1952. He served in the U.S. Navy as a Corpsman at the Navy Medical Station in Newport, Rhode Island from 1946-48. His many civic duties include, but are not limited to: Past Chairman of Kennesaw State University Foundation, Member Emeritus of the WellStar Health System, Past President of the Cobb County Chamber of Commerce, former Cobb County Manager (1989-1993). He founded Leadership Cobb in 1984 and received The Cobb County Citizen of the Year Award in 1985. Mack was retired from BellSouth Corporation where he worked for 37 years. A survivor of polio, Mack considered his greatest achievement his work with the Fulton County Medical Society in 1964 to distribute the Sabin Oral Vaccine. The vaccine was developed by Dr. Jonas Salk to prevent others from contracting polio. He is preceded in death by his parents, Ralph Patillo Henderson and Gertrude Margaret Henderson as well as his son, Christopher Kyle Henderson and granddaughter, Natalie Anne Henderson. He is survived by his wife, Jean Horton Henderson, his children the Reverend Jaime Henderson Leonard (Burleigh C.W. Leonard), Cary Manuel Henderson (Karen Wiggins Henderson), and Matthew Thomas “Tad” Henderson (Suzanne Pryor Henderson). His surviving grandchildren are Kristen Jean Henderson, Kyle William Henderson (Christine Smith Henderson), Jespere Grace Leonard Spencer (Reed William Spencer), Katie Faith Henderson Leonard and Rachael Claire Henderson. His surviving great-grandson is Hayes William Spencer. A memorial service will be Wednesday, July 13 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Marietta, Georgia. A reception will follow at the church. In lieu of flowers please make contributions to The Blue Bird Trail at Friends of Green Meadows Preserve, Inc. or your favorite charity. A complete list of his many accomplishments are listed below: Cobb County Manager – 1989-1993 Retired BellSouth (37 years) – 1989 Cobb County Citizen of the Year – 1985 President, Cobb Chamber of Commerce – 1984 Foreman, Cobb County Grand Jury – July/August 1983 President, Cobb County Emergency Aid Association – 1981-1983 Cobb County Boss of the Year – 1977 Past Chairman, Kennesaw State College Fund Foundation Past Chairman, Cobb County EXPO Committee – Displays Past Chairman and Board Member, Cobb County United Way – Metro Atlanta United Way Past Chairman, Cobb County Chamber of Convincers Past Chairman, Education Fund Drive, American Cancer Society, Cobb County Chapter Past Chairman, Roads & Highways for Economic Development – Cobb Chamber of Commerce Vice President, Community Development Vice President, Cobb Chamber Economic Development President, Vice-President, Civic Director, Chamblee-Doraville Businessmen’s Association Founder Leadership Cobb, 1984 President, Second Vice-President, Civic Director, North Dekalb Rotary Club President’s Council & Member, Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce Member, Gwinnett County Recreation Committee Member, Dekalb Chamber of Commerce Director & Member, North Fulton Chamber of Commerce Director, Oglethorpe University Alumni Association Vice-President, Oglethorpe University Alumni Association Division Chairman, United Way (Schools & Colleges Section) President, Dunwoody Booster Club Co-President & Co-Chairman, Peachtree High School Tip-Off Club President, Cross Keys Lion Club President, Oglethorpe University Booster Club Past-Chairman, Downtown Marietta Development Authority Advisor, Wheeler High Key Club & Member of Membership Committee Board Member, Cobb County American Cancer Society Board Member, Cobb County Family & Children Services Member, SAE Society Fraternity Member, Blue Key National Honor Fraternity Member, Le Conte Honor Fraternity Member, Marietta Country Club Chairman, Arch Bishop Diocesan Property Commission President, Partners Fund of Cobb County (Cultural Arts) Trustee & Secretary, Romeo Hudgins Vo-Tech Foundation Member, Marietta Girls Club Board Member, Director and Chairman, Cobb County Senior Citizens Advisory Board Member, Boy’s Club of Cobb County Vice-President & Board Member, Cobb County Children’s Center Co-Chairman, St. Joseph’s Catholic Church Building Fund Drive (1988) Founding Member, Georgian Club Member, Adivsory Board, Marietta-Cobb Vo-Tech Member, Cobb Hospital and Medical Center Authority Founding Member, ARC’s Regional Leadership Institute Co-Chair of Girl’s Club, A Night to Remember Chairman, Cobb County Heart Golf Classic Member, Promina Northwest Health System Member, Northwest Foundation Director, First Nations Bank of Cobb County Director, Barnett Bank Director, Bank South Here’s what Mack wrote about himself in 2006: James E. “Mack” Henderson was born on April 11, 1928 at the old St. Jospeh’s Infirmary on Courtland Street and baptized there a few days later in the chapel. He grew up in West End Cascade-Beecher area. He attended E. L. Connelly School and St. Anthony’s Catholic School followed by education and graduation from Marist College on Ivy Street. He enlisted before the end of WWII in the Navy as a Medical Corpsman. After his enlistment he returned to the Atlanta and graduated from Oglethorpe University with a degree in Advanced Biology. He joined Southern Bell in 1952 oil their college training program held various assignments in the Atlanta area. In December of 1975 he was sent to Marietta where he remained until his retirement in June of 1989. While in Marietta he restructured the Old Austell District and Rome District to become N.W. Operations which he managed until retirement. It was after 4 months of retirement when he was recruited by Cobb Commission to become Interim County Manager because the Commission had dismissed the County Manager. Unfamiliar with government, he studied departmental structure and redesigned some departments and state positions. In 1993 he resigned due to a change in administration. In high school and college he was active in all sports. He was a member of SAE Social Fraternity, President of Blue Key National Society and LeConte Honor Society. He was active in many civic organizations his entire life and president of many. He is a past president of Cobb Chamber of Commerce and was recognized as Citizen of the Year in 1985. A public service award is named in his honorary the chamber each year. He served on the WellStar Board of Trustees for some years and the Women’s Center is named in honor of he and his wife, Jean.Henderson. His motto when asked to do something was always, “I’ll try!”

James Edwin "Mack" Henderson

April 11, 1928 - July 8, 2022