Dayton Stories Project
Story Circle Session #082495
Ellison Senior Citizens Center
Dayton, Ohio
August 24, 1995
Interview with Mary Henderson
Interviewer: Garry Pritchett Recorder: Todd Williams Transcriber: NeAnni Ife Transcribe Typist: Sue Broadstock
Participant: Mary Henderson
This session lasts approximately 20 minutes.
The following transcription of the session has been edited, with repeated phrases or interruptions deleted to make the text flow more smoothly. It is suggested that visitors who find the text interesting take the time to listen to the audio portion of this session. A more detailed text will eventually be added.
Mary Henderson
It was during the depression. DeSoto Bass was the only place we would stay. Poor people. We were proud to stay in DeSoto Bass. Everybody was doing different things. They were glad to stay in the new buildings on Germantown Street. We were very fortunate to get into DeSoto Bass. We enjoyed ourselves. We though we were in heaven-to live in a new plat.
They still have friends there and they communicate. And when he made outstanding player of Ohio, oh my goodness. He had all his friends over there. And he got scholarship to the University of Michigan. And to tell the truth, I decided after we moved out in Westwood, we thought we were in heaven then. Because, at this time, it was all White. And we got in here and they began to build homes.
I was born in Alabama. I came here when I was about six years old. So, this is my home. I think, by me moving here and going to college, it changed my whole life. Got in clubs; Zeta Phi Beta, Top Ladies of Distinction, and I was one of the -I started Stork’s Nest for mothers that didn’t have any clothes and weren’t married. And I was in a whole lot of stuff helping people, because people helped me to get where I am.
I got my degrees and taught 30 years and reared five children. Doctors said I would never have children. Impossible. But one month I didn’t see anything and I said, “Something happened to me.” I was the happiest soul. Five children. No problems at all. All five of them went to college.
My husband started a printing shop on Washington. And we had a printing shop. The kids’ Daddy was good. People would come in, “Mr. Henderson, church going to have a so-and-so, and we don’t have any money.” He’d say, “Oh, I’ll fix you up.” He would do all the printing for them and wouldn’t get any money. He just loved what he was doing, helping people. He was born in Zanesville, Ohio. He had it rough. When he left Zanesville, he hiked himself to Wilberforce University.
I thank God that-for a lot of things. People encouraged me too. I did a lot of work in the community. I was president of PTA. I was able to get involved with the right people who needed it. I’m in three sororities, but I ain’t bothered about them, because they’re gonna make it.
Garry Pritchett
Her sons are principals and teachers. They made me in my fraternity. David was my big brother. We’d go over to the print shop and he’d haze us. He didn’t beat us too badly, but if we didn’t do what he told us... He was an inspiration. He’s younger than John. John was with the Minnesota Vikings and they played Kansas in the Super Bowl in ‘69 or something like that. He was the only one scoring for the Vikings. He made us proud. He really stood out. His number was 80 and we watched for him.
Mary Henderson
He was the Most Valuable Player in Ohio and Ohio didn’t even look at him. Michigan began to look at him and he went to Michigan. Ohio State ignored him. Michigan came to me and he made it. And he has done a lot of speaking in different areas.
Garry Pritchett
He was a big inspiration to me. I was in high school and he was like the one Daytonian playing pro football. And being on the high school team, that was very impressive.
Mary Henderson
and he’s still down to earth. He came here about a month ago. He played for the University of Michigan and they saw that he got into Honeywell. I can tell you a whole lot of stories about how God blessed me, blessed this family. I belong to a lot of organizations.
I went to Alabama and I was wondering why is it that Mama impressed us to go to college. She got on all her relatives in Dayton and we had a reunion and we had people who were ministers, doctors, lawyers, and so on. I said, “No wonder mama pushed us.” I’d say we’re average. From poor to average. I’ve got a lot to be grateful for. I wanted to give back to the community.
I met my husband at Wilberforce. We went to college together. My husband is just to goo to be a businessman. I bought the building on Washington Street. I knew he would just give it away. David is over it now. They’re profiting. And David is the Assistant Principal at Belmont. David is the second child. I’m going to have John come here. He doesn’t want to be away from David that long anyway.
I was an example that you can come up poor, but you can make something out of yourself if you want to.
We didn’t stay in Shorter Hall I was as dumb as could be. Didn’t know anything about life. He called me Duchess. He’s say, “duchess, I have to show you everything.” We were on the State Side. At first, it was together. Then they split. Those in education stayed at Central. The others went to Wilberforce. Last week we went to Wilberforce. They don’t even have the campus anymore. Marilyn took me to Wilberforce.
