Peggy Henderson

BOARDMAN - A funeral celebrating the life of Mrs. Peggy Mae Henderson, 80, who died Friday morning at her home, will be held Thursday at 11 a.m., at the Tabernacle Baptist Church.

Mrs. Henderson was born on July 6, 1935, in Pacolet, S.C., daughter of Roosevelt and Janetha (Gist) Smith. She moved to the Youngstown area at a young age with her aunt and uncle, James and Edna Johnson.

She attended Youngstown City Schools, graduating from The Rayen School in 1953. She was a 1975 graduate of Youngstown State University, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education.

She married her beloved husband, Samuel Henderson, on Aug. 18, 1962, and spend 53 years with him.

She spent many years at the Tabernacle Baptist Church, where she served as church secretary, sang in the Chancel Choir, worked with the Velma Mason Nursery Guild and was a trustette. In later years, she became a member of the Centenary United Methodist Church.

Peggy was ambiguous and hard working all her life. She had numerous jobs throughout her life. Later in life, she was employed as secretary to Mahoning County Probate Judge Charles P. Henderson, and later the executive secretary to the vice president of RMI, from where she retired in 1992. Peggy's energy compelled her to join the Mary Kay Cosmetics family, where she served as a director for 16 years. She was also a Golden Life member of Youngstown Alumnae Chapter of Delta Siama Theta Inc.

Peggy will be greatly missed by her husband, Samuel Henderson; two daughters, Patsy Payden of Atlanta and Evelyn Boykin of Cleveland; five grandchildren, Laverne, Joey, and Will Payden, and Shelilia and William Boykin; and a host of great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Besides her parents, Peggy was preceded in death by her three brothers, Roosevelt, Josephus, and Tom Gist; and her aunt and uncle.

Family and friends will be received on Wednesday from 4 until 7 p.m. at the Higgins-Reardon Funeral Homes, Boardman-Canfield Chapel. A funeral procession will be assembled and will be leaving the funeral home, headed for the Tabernacle Baptist Church on Thursday morning at 10:15 a.m.

Please visit www.higgins-reardon.com to view this tribute and send condolences.