Minerva Ann Peters Henderson

Minerva Ann Peters Henderson, 88, passed away peacefully Sunday, May 28, 2017, at Shannondale Healthcare Center, Maryville, TN. She was born in Alexandria, Louisiana, on October 13, 1928, but grew up in Holly Springs, Mississippi, later moving to Meridian, Mississippi. Minerva attended Kilgore Junior College in Kilgore, TX, and was a member of the Texas Kilgore Rangerettes precision dance team. She then enrolled in nursing school at the University of Tennessee in Memphis where she met medical student Joe Henderson, Jr., whom she married. When their children were older, Minerva returned to college and earned her B.A. in Education at the University of Tennessee. Minerva was an extraordinary hostess, cook and homemaker, with her pound cakes being quite legendary. She had a gracious Southern style of entertaining and was known for her charming Southern accent. She enjoyed many types of sewing, needlework and working with textiles. She was accomplished at weaving, rug-hooking, petit-point and sewing garments. She was active in Daughters of the American Revolution, Daughters of the Confederacy, Friends of the Library, Medical Spouses group, garden club, helping with Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, various church groups, Childrens International Summer Village and more. She excelled at flower arranging and enjoyed collecting accoutrements to use in her arrangements. A lifelong learner, she prized books, travelling, and classical music, having Symphony season tickets for decades. Minerva was preceded in death by husband Joseph Henderson, Jr., MD; parents, Dr. James I. Peters, Sr., and Brooksie W. Peters, brother, Dr. James I. Peters, Jr., son Steven W. Henderson, in laws Grace Allen Henderson and Joe S. Henderson, Sr., son in law Roy D. Crawford, Jr. She is survived by sister Brooksie Lowenthal, daughter Cathy Crawford, sons Joe Henderson, III (Tina); Daniel Henderson (Becky); grandsons Matt Jamison (Bronwyn) and Ethan Henderson; great-grandchildren Valerius, Xyphos and Valkyrie Jamison; sister in law Margaret Welchance, several nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held on Wed., July 19, 2017 at 7:00 PM at Monte Vista Baptist Church in Maryville, TN. Receiving of friends will be from 5-7 PM the same day. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial gifts be directed to the Blount County Friends of the Library, Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, the Monte Vista Haiti Mission fund, or a charity or your choice.