Emma Henson

Emma I. Henson was born in Pleasantville, New Jersey on July 31, 1922, to the late Matthew I. Williams and Luella E. Williams. On February 21, 2022, after ninety-nine years on this earth, God answered her prayers and took her home to glory. Emma spent her childhood on the shores of New Jersey. She would frequent the Atlantic City boardwalk and beach. She received her primary education in the Atlantic County public school system and graduated from Pleasantville High School in 1940. Her high school yearbook described her as “always on the go with a bright smart thing to say as she goes”. Shortly after high school, she married the late Samuel J. Henson, with whom they were blessed with four children from their union, Beryl Moore, Alice Bennett, Yvonne Taylor, and Charles Henson. During her adult life, Emma enjoyed crocheting and sewing, oftentimes making clothes for herself and her children. She enjoyed playing badminton during family cookouts and then getting in the pool on rare occasions. She greatly enjoyed playing Friday night cards with friends and family. She enjoyed spending precious moments with numerous faithful friends throughout the years. After her illness in the seventies, she began pottery classes to improve her cognitive skills. To this day, most family members still have precious pieces of pottery that she gifted them. Emma would also frequent her beloved home in Atlantic City to visit her mother, sisters and niece and then off to the casinos she would go! One of her most precious moments was spending time with her beloved seven grandchildren, whom all lovingly called her “Grandmother”. She enjoyed watching them play in the pool or yard during summer months or just having them over for regular visits. Emma was even blessed to have great-grandchildren whom she adored. She was known for spending time tending to her flower beds or sitting on the front porch of her home waving to all the locals that passed by. She enjoyed walking around the neighborhood until she was well in her early eighties! Emma faithfully watched her game shows, soap operas, westerns and shows like “In the Heat of the Night” and the “Jimmy Swaggart Gospel” program. She was also a long-time member of Cowdensville A.M.E church where she served as steward and matriarch of the church. In her later years, she was unable to attend church but enjoyed home visits with Pastor Alicia Hudnall and looked forward to visits from the clergy of Grace AME Church who faithfully offered her communion every first Sunday. We will all miss her quick wit, advice, wisdom, compassion, empathy and all of her life stories ….but mostly her irreplaceable presence. Emma leaves to cherish her loving memory: brother, Irvin T. Williams; four children, Beryl Moore, Alice Bennett (Cyril), Yvonne Taylor (Lawrence dec.) and Charles Henson (Hilda); her grandchildren, Lisa Lewis, Cyril P. Bennett Jr., Shaye Bennett, Lynelle Lewis, Tonya Roycroft, and Chad Taylor; eight greatgrandchildren, Troy Schaffer, Taylor Bennett, Cara Schaffer, Ariel Taylor, Andrew Lewis, Brennan Roycroft, Trevor Doaman and Samantha Lewis; and host of nieces, nephews, relatives and cherished friends. Emma is preceded in death by husband, Samuel Henson; sisters, Elizabeth White and Yvonne Williams; grand-daughter Paula Schaffer.

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Emma Henson

July 31, 1922 - February 21, 2022