Thomas MacMillan Photo
Ruth Virginia (Tate) Henderson passed away at the age of eighty-seven on Saturday, July 16, 2022, after a brief illness. Ruth was filled with love, respect, and service to others.
She was the fourth of ten children born to John Henry and Mary (Marie) Catherine Tate in Washington, D.C (Georgetown).
In 1955 she married her loving husband Larry Henderson and relocated to New Haven. Their union ended after 66 years when Larry Henderson departed this life on November 24, 2021.
They had five children Garry, Sean, Rodney, Michael, and Mignone Henderson of New Haven. She leaves nine grandchildren, 28 great grandchildren and five great great grandchildren.
Besides raising her family, Ruth filled her life with educational achievements, personal development, and community outreach. She was known as Grandma Ruth by all the neighborhood children as well as the friends her children and grandchildren would bring home in addition to the children she cared for through her work.
She graduated from Grace Hospital as the first African American EKG Technician.
She worked at Yale New Haven Hospital for 24 years. She served in the role of a manager. She received her MSW from Springfield College. She then began working at the Forbes House, Scanterbury/Hannah Gray Home, Cornerstone, Grant Street Partnership. She also retired from Our Kids within the Department of Social Services. She worked for the New Haven Board of Education as well.
Ruth’s dedication to community and service extended to the Dickerman Street Block Watch, Police Review Board, Yale New Haven Hospital Board Member, St Luke’s Church, Wexler Grant Grandparents Program, and Dixwell Community Management Team. “Grandma Ruth” knew and looked out for the kids on her home block of Dickerman Street. “I’m the only grandmother,” she said,“who has 600 grandchildren.” (Click here to read a story about that.)
She also served for more than 10 years on the City of New Haven Youth Commission and the Commission on Equal Opportunities.
When learning of Commissioner Henderson’s passing Nichole, Jefferson, the Executive Director of Commission on Equal Opportunities, said, “She was a dedicated commissioner. She always put residents first. She paved the way for minorities and woman. She voted for policies that provided opportunities that did not exist and gave residents a better quality of life. Commissioner Henderson made long term regulations to enhance economic decisions for residents to have opportunities and to be able to retire with dignity. She will be missed for her strength and tenacity.”
She was also an entrepreneur. She owned her own beauty supply store.
A celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, July 30th at 11 a.m., the New Trinity Temple Church of God in Christ, 285 Dixwell Ave., 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. viewing.