Rensselaer Republican Newspaper - October 1944, Indiana

MRS. MELISSA HENRY DIES AT HER HOME HERE

Death Follows Several Years of Failing Health; Rites Here Tuesday; Burial In Tennessee

Mrs. Melissa A. Z. Henry, who so well personified the American motherhood of the late pioneer days and who so will typified the strength and courage of an era which played such an important role in the nation's tranformance from pioneer to modern; died at her home on Matheson street at six forty-five o'clock this Monday morning.

The death of Mrs. Henry, a native of Tennessee and a resident of Jasper county for more than twenty years, resulted from a series of complications. She had been in gradually failing health for eight years and in delicate health for a year or more, with heart ailment as the chief cause of her decline.

Mrs. Henry was born in Cookville, Tenn., on September 10, 1869, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Preston Robinson. she was educated in the local schools. She was united in marriage with Madison C. Henry in 1885. He passed away in 1919. In the latter year, accompanied by several of her children, she removed to Jasper county, settling on a farm near Parr, where she resided until coming to Rensselaer thirteen years ago.

Sons in Both Wars
It is interesting to note that Mrs. Henry was a war service mother of both World Wars. In World War I it was her son, Crockett Henry, who answered his country's call and in the present was her family is represented by two sons, Tarence and Benton, and five grandsons who are in the armed service. Another grandson is listed missing in action.

Mrs. Henry was so remindful of those earlier periods of motherhood, with her homespun philosophies, her simple pattern of living, her wholesome everyday life dedicated to her family and friends. An excellent neighbor, industrious in marked degree, uncomplaining, tolerant, ever thoughtful of others and ever mindful of her duties as a mother she was a delightful example of motherhood as its best. A patriarchal mother of the type who gave strength to the nation's sinews. One of her daughters so well described her as "the inspiration for Lavender and Old Lace with her white hair serving as a crown."

Mrs. Henry is survived by the following children: Emily Jane Day and Mary Mackey of Sparta, Tenn.; Ader Farley of Detroit, Crockett Henry of Rensselaer, Burford Henry of Detroit; Preston Henry of Rensselaer, Mrs. Hattie Polston of Sparta, Julie and Carl Henry and Mrs. Fannie Daugherty of Rensselaer, Mrs. Pearl Weaver of Roselawn, Mrs. Allie May Phares of Rensselaer, Dallas Henry of Roselawn, Tarence Henry of Camp Barkley, Texas, and Benton Henry of Camp Rucker, Alabama. Also surviving are 29 grandchildren.

Married Madison Columbus Henry on Jan 8, 1885 in Putnam Co., TN