Raymond Lafayette Henderson

On May 31, 2026, Raymond (Ray) Lafayette Henderson, Jr., loving father, grandfather and great-grandfather peacefully departed this life at home, surrounded by his family.

Ray was born on April 3, 1935 to Raymond L. Henderson and Mary Emily Staples Henderson in Memphis, Tennessee. He grew up on a farm and graduated from Bells High School. Following in his father's footsteps, Ray pursued a pharmacy degree. In his last years of college, he met his wife, Louise, while working part-time at Bailey Drugs. They married on October 20, 1956. Ray graduated from the University of Tennessee at Memphis with a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy degree in 1957. He and Louise moved to Nashville after graduation where they raised three daughters.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents and younger brother, Samuel C. Henderson. He is survived by his daughters, Marilee H. Dye, Dana (Stuart) Countess and Amy (Craig) Wood; grandchildren Raymond Jackson Countess, Anna Louise Countess, Lauren (Cody) Wood Reynolds and William Ethan Wood; great-grandchildren Gracie Reynolds and Madilyn Reynolds; and sister-in-law, Betty Henderson. Ray also leaves behind many beloved nephews, nieces, great-nephews, great-nieces and friends.

Ray was a long-time member of Pennington Fellowship Church. He enjoyed Bible Study and supporting programs there like Room-at-the-Inn. He took many trips with church friends; one of his favorite was a trip to tour the Holy Land in Israel. Ray was a generous neighbor, always available to help install or remove an appliance. For years he walked the neighborhood early in the morning putting newspapers on porches of the elder folks. Ray was a pharmaceutical representative for Eli Lilly for thirty-five years. It was a job he really enjoyed. Once the grandchildren started arriving his favorite role became that of grandfather; and he was a great hands-on "Poppy".