ENROLLED
2017 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 47
BY REPRESENTATIVE GAROFALO AND SENATORS ALARIO, ALLAIN, APPEL,
BARROW, BISHOP, BOUDREAUX, CARTER, CHABERT, CLAITOR,
COLOMB, CORTEZ, DONAHUE, ERDEY, FANNIN, GATTI, HEWITT, JOHNS,
LAFLEUR, LAMBERT, LONG, LUNEAU, MARTINY, MILKOVICH, MILLS,
MIZELL, MORRELL, MORRISH, PEACOCK, PERRY, PETERSON, RISER,
GARY SMITH, JOHN SMITH, TARVER, THOMPSON, WALSWORTH, WARD,
AND WHITE
A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
To express sincere and heartfelt condolences upon the death of former state representative
Reed Stephen Henderson.
WHEREAS, it was with deep regret and profound sorrow that the members of the
Legislature of Louisiana learned of the death of their friend and former colleague, Reed
Stephen Henderson, on Tuesday, September, 20, 2016, at the age of sixty-three; and
WHEREAS, Reed Stephen Henderson was widely respected, admired, and beloved
as a political leader and entrepreneur; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Henderson was the son of the late Ashley and Kathleen Cantrell
Henderson; and
WHEREAS, from 2008 until 2012, Mr. Henderson served as a dedicated member of
the Louisiana House of Representatives, and he used every opportunity as an able and
productive legislator to serve his constituency in Orleans Parish and St. Bernard Parish and
the citizens of the state of Louisiana in an honorable and dedicated manner; and
WHEREAS, a graduate of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, commodity
trader, and licensed stock broker, Representative Henderson served as a member of the
Democratic Caucus, the Louisiana Rural Caucus, and the Orleans Delegation; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Henderson steadfastly endeavored to improve the welfare of his
fellow citizens, and his legislative accomplishments were numerous; he served with great
diligence as member of the House Committee on Commerce, the House Committee on
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Natural Resources and Environment, the House Committee on Retirement, and the Select
Committee on Hurricane Recovery; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Henderson served as a St. Bernard Parish sheriff's deputy; he was
also a highly successful entrepreneur and lobbyist for the St. Bernard Parish Port; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Henderson was a devoted lifetime parishioner of Our Lady of
Lourdes Catholic Church in Violet, Louisiana, where he served as lector and catechism
teacher and was an honored member of the Knights of Columbus; and
WHEREAS, he leaves to cherish his memory his loving wife, Hope Martin
Henderson; children, Joshua Reed Henderson, Eric M. Henderson, and his wife Joelle,
Zachary S. Henderson, and Heather Henderson DuBose, and her husband Daniel; sisters,
Janice Doran and Ashlie Rodriguez, and her husband Roland; grandchildren, Elijah, Kate,
Noah, Tristan, Lyla, Logan, Isabella, Zoe, Abigail, and Grant; niece, Ashley Doran Powell;
nephews, John Doran, III, Ross Rodriguez, and Dane Rodriguez; and a host of other nieces,
nephews, cousins, and dear friends; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Henderson was preceded in death by his late wife, Deborah
Desselle Henderson; parents, Ashley and Kathleen Cantrell Henderson; and nephew, Kurt
Rodriguez; and
WHEREAS, those who knew Mr. Henderson remember him as an iconic politician,
and a loving and loyal husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend; and
WHEREAS, the death of Reed Stephen Henderson has left a great void and created
a genuine sense of sorrow in all who knew him, including the members of the legislative
family, all of whom mourn the loss of this wonderful man who served his state and
community so well and so passionately; and
WHEREAS, Reed Stephen Henderson leaves behind a rich and unique legacy and
is greatly missed by all whose lives he touched through his commitment to public service
and his dedication to the citizens of Louisiana.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
express sincere and heartfelt condolences upon the death of former state representative Reed
Stephen Henderson; does hereby recognize that his legacy of dedicated public service shall
forever endure; and does hereby record for posterity the abiding appreciation of the citizens
of Louisiana for his extraordinary contributions and achievements.
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
to the family of Reed Stephen Henderson.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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