John W. "J.W." Henry, Jr.

J.W. Henry, Jr. left this world peacefully on September 10, 2020. He is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Mildred Lemaire; his daughter, Joanna Leggett; his son, Bert Allen; his father, John Henry, Sr.; his mother, Opal Fairris; his grandson, Martin “T. Wayne” Davenport; and numerous other loved ones.

J.W. is survived by his children, Opal Stifflemire and her husband Glen; Edwina Mattarocci; Mary Bourge and her husband Mitchel; Patrick Henry; and John Henry and his wife Jeanné.

He is also survived by 21 grandchildren and numerous great and great-great grandchildren.

Born in January 15, 1933 in Dallas, Texas, he was the son of John Henry, Sr. and Opal (Fairris) Henry. He proudly served his country in the United States Marine Corps. Early in his life, J.W. pursued a career in the professional boxing arena, leaving this profession in 1955 to follow his calling to become an Evangelist for his Lord.

He retired from Local 187 Boilermaker Union, and worked in numerous positions in law enforcement in Orange and Newton County.

A graveside service will be at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, September 13, 2020, at Orange Forest Lawn Cemetery in West Orange. Officiating will be Reverend T. R. Richmond.

Visitations will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Saturday, and 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Sunday, at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange.

Serving as pallbearers will be Joshua Henry, Wilbert Moore, Bert Henry, Wesley Moore, Phillip Henry, Larry Leggett, John William Henry, III, Benjamin Henry, and Austin Henry. Honorary pallbearers are Micah Moore and Seth Moore.