A Celebration of Life was held for Judy Ivonne Henry, who died on July 29, 2016. Funeral Services were entrusted to J. B. Jenkins Funeral Home in Landover, Md.
A viewing was held at 10 a.m. followed by a service at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 9, at the First Baptist Church of Glenarden. Rev. Belynda Gentry officiated and was the eulogist.
The Life of July Henry
Judy Ivonne Henry was born to Axel and Viola Henry on Oct. 31, 1952, at Ft. Brook in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She was the second child of this union. Her educational journey began as a first grader in Oklahoma at Dunbar Elementary School. As an “Army brat,” Judy lived in such places at Ft. Rucker, Ala.; Ft. Riley, Kan.; Ft. Sill, Okla.; and Ft. Smith, Ark. She returned home to St. Croix in 1963 with her mother, sister and brother while her father completed his last tour of duty with the Army in Hawaii.
She was a proud member of the 1970 graduating class of St. Croix Central High School on St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. Upon graduation from high school, she relocated to Daytona Beach, Fla., to attend Bethune Cookman College. She completed her studies in 1974 and received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology.
Upon graduating from college, Judy returned back home to St. Croix and worked for the Department of Social Services. She worked as the day care social worker for the entire island.
In 1978, Judy enlisted in the Air Force and attended the Air Force Personnel Specialist Course at Kessler AFB. While stationed at Ft. Ellsworth, S.D., she met a man by the name of William Cowan. In 1979, Judy gave birth to her only child, Marissa Dalia Cowan. From April 1978 to April 1982, she was assigned as an outbound assignments clerk and later as the wing/base special assignments clerk in the Outbound Assignments Section, with the 44th Combat Support Group at Ellsworth AFB, S.D.
In 1982, she was assigned to the 1947th Administrative Support Group Headquarters Air Force (HAF), Pentagon, Washington, D.C., where she served as HAF support outbound assignment specialist, HAF support formal training specialist and as the non-commissioned officer in charge officer promotions. In 1986, Judy was assigned as the assistant NCO in charge of Manning Control Unit, 1775 Mission Support Squadron, Andrews AFB, Md.
From April 1987 to 1990, she was stationed at Kadena Air Force Base in Okinawa, Japan. While at Kadena, she worked as the assistant NCO in charge for the Outbound Assignments Unit and as the assistant NCO in charge for the Personnel Assistance Center. Upon her return from Kadena in April 1990, she was assigned as the retirement, separation program manager, Headquarters Air Force Office of Special Investigations, Bolling AFB, D.C. Judy retired from the Air Force as the chief officer section for the deputy undersecretary of the Air Force, International Affairs, Air Force Attache’ Affairs Office in October 1999 as a master sergeant.
After retiring from the military, she went on to complete her Master’s Degree in Management with the National Louis University while working at different jobs within the DMV. She ultimately retired from the U.S. Coast Guard on her birthday in 2015.
Judy was blessed with the gift of hospitality. Her door was always open to all family and friends. She always made sure you were comfortable in her house. Extra special care was always made before anyone arrived to her house, which included her vigorously cleaning the house and buying special treats for her guests.
Judy loved to read mysteries and write short stories and poems in her spare time. She had many of her poems copyrighted. Her poems were always centered around life issues and how those issues should be used to turn to Jesus in times of need. Judy volunteered for over 10 years at the First Baptist Church of Glenarden bookstore. She took great pride in helping God’s people find the right books they needed to help them tackle their life issues and grow spiritually. Judy loved God and it showed through her lifestyle and her interactions with others.
She was preceded in death by her father, Axel A. Henry; brother, Daryl Pemberton; sister, MigDalia A. Henry; and nephew, Jermaine Pemberton.
She is survived by her mother, Viola Drummond Henry; daughter, Marissa Dalia Cowan; sister, Eleanor E. Mason; brother, Randall A. Henry; nephews: Henrique “Wakiba” A. Mason Jr., Ryan O. Mason, Mark O. Mason, Eugene Pemberton, Daryl A. Pemberton Jr., Nimrod Hennemann Jr., Neil Hennemann, Nardii Hennemann and Chanz Lindquist; and great nieces: Katherine Mason, Nicole Mason, Yenique A. Mason, Isha Hennemann, Excellency Hennemann, Nevaeha Lindquist and London Hennemann.
She is also survived by great nephews: Ryan O. Mason Jr., Bryan Mason and Caleb Mason; cousins: Irene Alteri, Yvonne Lombardi, Daniel James, Alton James, Edwin James, Jennifer James, Helen Liburd, Magnolia Drummond Paul, Victor Drummond Jr., Curtis Drummond, Bodil Drummond Poole, Carmen Drummond Benjamin, Gloria Grainger, Inez Hall Lang, Maria Hall, Eleanor Hall Edney and Angela Hall Santos.
Other surviving cousins include Roy Hall, Anselmo Hall, Alfonso Hall, Merna Henry Krauser, Joan Henry Petersen, Claudette Henry Vanterpool, Hilary Henry and Family, Sherill Richardson, Wayne Thomas, Gloria Richards Euseve, Delroy Richards, Kenneth Williams, Joyce Messer Fontenella (Texas), George Lewis, Janet Smith (St. Thomas), Sherri Proctor (Md.) the Brewster family, the Tillman family (DC/MD).
Acknowledgment: Our family is grateful to all who have been so kind and thoughtful during this period of bereavement. Words cannot express our deep gratitude for all your prayers, acts of kindness and sympathy. God bless you all.
