In Loving Memory
Barry Gerald Henson, the seventh child of Benjamin and Mary Nixon Henson was born on May 1, 1950 in Orlando, Florida. He was the baby boy, much beloved, a strong and independent child with a great aptitude for singing. He is described by his siblings as a precocious child and a great leader from a young age. One day while accompanying his father to a band practice at Jones High School, he imitated an older cousin who was the band’s Drum Major and was selected by his future mentor and father figure, Band Director James W. Wilson, to act as a mascot Drum Major for the band.
Barry met the love of his life, Queen Evangeline Ferrell affectionately called “Van” in his youth on Federal Street in Orlando, Florida where they grew up on opposite ends of the street. It is said that Barry fell in love with Van when they were around twelve years old, and that love lasted throughout his life. They became the proud parents of one daughter, Felecia Andrea Henson, and married in 1970. Barry acted as a bonus-father to his young brother-in-law, Dwayne Bernard Ferrell and helped to raise him.
Barry graduated from Jones High School in 1968. Following his high school graduation, Barry attended Florida A & M University in Tallahassee, FL and in 1969, joined the United States Air Force. He completed basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, was stationed at Macdill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida and left for a tour of duty as a fighter jet mechanic in Udorn, Thailand in support of the Vietnam war. He continued his military career earning the rank of Staff Sargent as a Human Relations Specialist with the 3550th Air Base Group at Moody Air Force Base in Valdosta, Georgia. His military career came to an end as an Army Reservist in Orlando, Florida.
After his return to Florida in 1974, Bishop Henson joined the Orlando Police Department where he served his community faithfully. He also served in local government as the Equal Opportunity Coordinator, Minority Business Administrator and the Law Enforcement Executive Assistant for the City of Orlando. In the corporate sector, Bishop Henson was a Marketing Executive with DAMS, Inc. and served as an Associate Planning Analyst with Martin Company. He then completed his college education earning an Associate of Arts degree in Business Administration at Valencia Community College and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Florida Southern College.
Barry accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of his life and received a calling into the ministry. He was licensed to preach by the Orlando/Jacksonville District of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church and served as a Steward, New Believers Instructor, Associate Choir Director, and New Member Network Coordinator. He developed additional spiritual discipline under the tutelage of a mentor, Dr. John Washington, learning the Word of God and the art of teaching it to God’s people. After the death of his spiritual mentor, Barry became a member of Calvary Assembly Church in Winter Park, FL and then joined Mt. Carmel Baptist Church in Eatonville, FL in 1986 where he served as the New Believers Instructor and New Member Network Coordinator.
At Mt. Carmel, God tied his heart to Bishop Kimble’s heart with a Johnathan - David style of friendship, so much so that Barry volunteered as an Assistant Pastor while still working his full-time job. He faithfully served in various capacities and leadership roles. His focus centered on executing Bishop Kimble’s vision as the Executive Pastor from 1991 until 2003. He was always willing to do anything, from cleaning the church, to singing, and ministering God’s Word from the pulpit. Bishop Henson was instrumental in the ongoing development of The Life Center Church ministries, administration, and facilities. He served as coordinator for the planning, development, and construction of the 45,000 square foot Life Center Church multi-purpose and sanctuary facilities located in Eatonville, FL.
Bishop Henson also played a major role in the development, implementation, and administration of governance policies and procedures which serve to guide The Life Center Church. In 2005, Bishop Kimble commissioned Barry and his wife Van to start a branch of The Life Center Church in Ocala, FL called The Ocala Life Center Church where he served faithfully. On October 24, 2009, he was ordained the jurisdictional Bishop for The Life Center Church, his service continued until he transitioned to be with The Lord on Thursday, March 24, 2022.
He leaves to continue his legacy his wife of fifty-two years, Van, his daughter Felecia, his brother-in-law who was also like a son Dwayne (Cheryl), Godson Reggie, Sisters, Almeda, Carole and Maria, Brothers, Michael and Bruce, his aunts and uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews, Barry acted as a spiritual father to a multitude of spiritual sons and daughters and of course his loving Life Center and Ocala Life Center Church family.
He was always a source of wisdom, advice and comfort and those who caught his vision will carry on his legacy to ensure the lessons he taught will never die.
