Jacqueline Meredith Henderson (Jackie) was born on November 8, 1938, in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.  She was the youngest of ten children born to the late Charles and Maretha (Dixon) Henderson.

Jackie graduated from Roxbury Memorial High School for Girls, and then went to work for Parker Hill/Fenway Head Start for nineteen years.  Jackie loved working with young children . . . they were her heart and soul.  Jackie then went on to work for Boston Public Schools for almost two decades. Her love for working with children is what motivated her until her retirement during the early 2000's.

One of Jackie's favorite things to do was to listen to Oldies and Doo Wop Music, preferably Marvin Gaye, Four Tops and the Temptations.  She also loved to read biographies, the newspapers; and watching her Westerns on television.  She also passionately watched the Evangelist Jimmie Swaggart Show because she loved the gospel songs on the program.

Jackie especially enjoyed cooking; and her grandchildren loved her spaghetti with homemade sauce.  She was also an exceptionally good baker . . . making her homemade cakes on Sundays was a way of getting her nieces and nephews to come to visit weekly.  She loved seafood, except for calamari.

She enjoyed the casinos and her scratch tickets.   She also truly loved her Mission Hill family and remained at 54 Annunciation Road until her passing.

Jackie's two daughters, Janice and Brenda, were her pride and joy.  She was extremely proud of them and what great mothers they were to her beautiful grandchildren.  Jackie also enjoyed being with her nieces and nephews and because she was the youngest of ten children, she grew up with them.  She and her family on Harold Street in Roxbury had plenty of good times together; their memories will never be forgotten.

Jackie was also very independent, she loved to travel on the Mission Link Bus . . . that bus was her Cadillac to get to Brigham Circle to do her shopping.  She loved the interactions on the bus and she also never wanted to ask anyone for rides.  Jackie knew the Mission Link bus driver by first name (Ernest), and always commented on how nice and passionate he was with the elderly.  Because Jackie rode the "Link" so much and was a regular passenger, Ernest had the Mission Link post Jackie in the "Link Information Booklet" . . . like a Poster Child.  She was so proud of that booklet.

Jacke also loved to read daily Bible scriptures and enjoyed reading scriptures to begin her day.  She also enjoyed watching the Celtics and the Patriots games.  She was a great Boston sports fan.

Jackie and her longtime companion, William (Billy) Johnson, were together for 34 years.  The love and level of respect they had for each other was unmatched.  The two of them were very blessed to have connected with each other, and that link lasted until her passing.

Jackie was very blessed to have had Shirley Drayton for a friend.  Shirley loved Jackie as if she was her very own Mom.  The level of respect and care that Shirley gave Jackie even to the very end of her life, will be forever remembered.  Joann Morgan, Leola Suttles, Linda Malachi and Diane Williams also consistently looked out for Jackie, as well as the entire Mission Hill family.

Jackie was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Maretha Henderson; and her nine siblings: Arlene, Marion, Charles Jr, Dorothy, Phyllis, Lois, Charlotte, Shirley and Robert Sr.

She leaves to cherish her memory: two loving daughters – Janice Henderson-Burke and Brenda Henderson-Brown of Boston MA; two sons-in-law – Bradley Burke and Theodore Brown Sr; four grandchildren – Theodore Jr (wife, Keisha), of Medford, MA, Cheryse of Waldorf, MD, Ashley of Paterson, NJ, and Charles of Boston, MA; five great grandchildren – Mason, Amin, Amani, Leila and Promise; and her longtime companion – William Johnson.  She also leaves to cherish her memory a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

The Obsequy was written and outlined by Jacqueline Meredith Henderson, with the assistance of her two daughters and Jacqueline Furtado.