Don Henderlight, 69, has died. When did he get to be almost 70? And when did we quit calling him Donnie?
Donnie Henderlight grew up on Pedigo Road, in that area between Halls and Powell, and just down the road from the Clark family (my grandparents, uncle and cousin’s) farm.
His parents, Jack and Willie Mae, were founders and leaders at Fair Havens Baptist Church, along with my mother and a dozen others who wanted a (slightly) more progressive (and kid-centric) church experience. Donnie and I got the benefit of that including Sunday school literature, training union and VBS. Don was the oldest of four kids and always was serious-minded. He was smart, but I was older and more driven – a Quick Draw McGraw on those Bible drills. Don graduated from UT and made a career as an accountant. We lost touch.
He got the honor of serving as campaign treasurer for R. Larry Smith’s various races. And Larry was a friend to Don as well. You would see them together, back in the day, one tall and one not, walking across Thompson-Boling Arena.
Don was active in the Halls Business and Professional Association, helping with various projects. He was named Halls Man of the Year in 1998. His daughter, Erin, was the light of his life, and his obituary is a tribute to their relationship and to Don’s legacy as a community-loving man.
Friends and family are invited to a celebration of Don’s life from 2-4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022, at Mynatt Funeral Home in Halls with a memorial service to follow, led by Revs. Stephen Doyle and Thomas Sweet. Don’s full obituary is here.