Bea's Grandfather's Obituary

Mandred Thomas Henry
April 6, 1934 - May 5, 2007


Mandred Thomas Henry, 73, of Edgartown, MA, member of Grace Episcopal Church, Vineyard Haven, and previously a long-time resident of Worcester, MA, died on May 5, 2007 at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston. He died peacefully surrounded by his family.

Born April 6, 1934 in Hartford, CT to parents Floyd Mandred Henry and Corinne E. Taylor Henry. Mandred grew up in Hartford CT as a member of St. Monica’s Episcopal Church, graduated from Weaver High School in 1953 and attended UCONN, Storrs. A visit to Martha’s Vineyard during college began a lifelong love of the island, where he later enjoyed fishing with his Dad and spending summers with his children. He moved to the Vineyard when he retired after 27 years from Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Worcester, MA. He became an avid golfer and fisherman.

Mandred was a seventh generation descendant of Venture Smith, who was captured in the 1700’s as a slave in New Guinea, and eventually bought his freedom and his family’s freedom and owned several hundred acres of land on the Connecticut River when he died in 1805.

Although Mandred has fought racial inequality all his life, his leadership role began to flourish on the Vineyard as he was elected MV/NAACP president for 12 years; served as a Martha’s Vineyard Hospice volunteer and Board Member; and served as Vestry member and Jr. warden of Grace Episcopal Church.

His best friend Charles J. Ogletree, Jr. once wrote, “To me, Mandred Henry is Mr. Martha’s Vineyard. From the time he arrived on this island he has worked hard to increase racial harmony and understanding, and to make sure that equality of opportunity and fairness are applied to all people. He has made it his life’s mission to promote good relationship between people of all diverse ethnicities. Mandred loves and cares for people.”

He is survived by his loving wife, Laurie Perry Henry, his sister Coralyn Henry Jackson, Hartford, CT (husband Jesse), his son Mandred Thomas Henry II, by Lorraine Waters Henry, Falmouth, MA and his children by Lilo Weiss Henry; Susi Ryan (husband Robert), Worcester, MA, Angi Perron (husband Gary), Milford, NH, Corinne Henry and Floyd Henry, Providence, RI; grandchildren Gina Ryan, Beatrice Perron, Christian Perron, Mandred Tyler Henry, Jazz Jordan Henry, Amber Henry, Evan Perron, and Hanna Perron; 1 great-grandchild Jasir Robert Ryan Lee, several nieces and nephews, and his two best friends Otis William Wade and Charles J. Ogeltree Jr.

Calling hours will be held on Friday, May 11 at Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home, 56 Edgartown Road, Oak Bluffs, MA from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Funeral Services will be held at Grace Episcopal Church, 36 Woodlawn Ave., Vineyard Haven, MA at 11:00 a.m. Contributions may be made in his name to the MV/NAACP or the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital Building Fund.

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Papa was going to officiate our wedding this fall. I will be going down to Martha's Vineyard Friday morning for everything.