Tag: Fairfax VA

Grandfather and Us: Wilmer Benjamin Henry

Backstory of the article that was in the Alexandria Gazette Newspaper on September 2, 2020, gives insight into Wilmer Benjamin Henry and his grandchildren.

Wilmer Benjamin Henry at Virginia Episcopal High School

Wilmer Benjamin Henry was born on February 22, 1898 in Accotink, which is located in Fairfax, Virginia near Fort Belvoir. His father was from Bedford, Virginia and his mother was from Fairfax, Virginia.

Wilmer had several careers including janitor, barber, waiter, and a mail carrier for his community. He loved his family and especially his grandchildren. Two of his grandchildren shared their memories of their grandfather with me.

Rita Murphy Harris was one of his grandchildren. She is the

Left to right: Rita Harris and Toniette Duncan

daughter of Elrich Murphy and Marie Elizabeth Henry Murphy. She grew up in her grandfather’s house. Toniette Henry Duncan is the daughter or Corrine Idella Henry and John Sydney Holland, Jr. She also grew up in her grandfather’s house. Both women talked about the adventures they experienced in their grandfather’s house

Also in their grandfather’s house on Johnson Lane prior to urban renewal, they experienced life in the rural area of Seminary. The women enjoyed the closeness of family members and friends in their community.

“Our friends were like family,” stated Toniette. “We all were very close like family.”

Life in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s in the Seminary area include extended families and friends who looked out for each other and enjoyed the simply life.

Rita is the only child of Elrich Murphy. Her mother Marie Elizabeth Murphy-Spinner remarried and had two sons, Blair Spinner and Albert Spinner, Jr. Toniette is her mother’s youngest child, but she has an older sister, Sylvia Delores Henry. In addition, Toniette and Sylvia have other siblings through their father and they are Ceyonne, Deborah, Leslie, Lisa and Lynne.

Grandparents are special human beings. For Rita and Toniette, their grandfather found his youth again through his grandchildren raising them and providing for them.

Wilmer Benjamin Henry died at the age of 83 on December 16, 1981. Up until he died, he was employed at the Virginia Episcopal High School as a janitor and he was the neighborhood barber.

You can read more about “Grandfather and Us: Wilmer Benjamin Henry,” in the Alexandria Gazette newspaper dated, September 2, 2020 on page 6 at
http://connectionarchives.com/PDF/2020/090220/Alexandria.pdf.

From Firefighter to Poet: Kendall Thompson

Behind the scene of the article “From Firefighter to Poet: Kendall Thompson.”

Kendall Thompson

Kendall Thompson is one of our successful Alexandrians who became a firefighter in 1986. He climbed up through the ranks at the Fairfax Fire Department to Fire Captain. He also had a strong childhood passion in writing poetry. During his pre-retirement years, he wrote his poems on his IPAD’s note application. He kept writing one poem after another. Now as a retiree, he is free to be a full-time poet.

Kendall comes from a large family. His parents Clayton Thompson, Sr and Irene Drayton had eleven children. Kendall’s siblings are:

Brenda Thompson Laster is a beautician who still practice in Alexandria, Virginia.

Clayton Thompson, Jr is a retired firefighter, currently employed by Homeland Security/Assistance Firefighters’ Grants

Jeffrey Thompson is deceased but he was a U.S. Army and laborer

Iris Thompson is retired from Alexandria City Public School as a Teacher’s Assistant

Marsha Thompson Smith is retired from Alexandria City Schools (Headquarters/School Board)

Lisa Thompson Mountain is a beautician in New Orleans, Louisiana

Norma Cheryl Thompson Blackmon deceased was retired from the U.S. Courts

Christopher Thompson is a retired firefighter and is now the Civilian Assistant to the Fire Chief of Alexandria City

Victor Thompson is a Sous Chef at a country club in Chantilly, Virginia

Michele Thompson is a paralegal in Fairfax, Virginia and she performs network marketing

Kendall is now making up for lost time he has published several books of poems. His books are:

“Why We Walk in the Street” – This book is about poems that give thoughts about these times that we are living in from the writer’s perspective. (Released June 21, 2020)

“Angry Black Man,” is a book of verse of the author’s thoughts. The book is to make you think. It is a black man’s thoughts. (Released July 7, 2020)

“Hearing Whispers,” describes the feelings that the author gets as his thoughts turn towards the loss of a loved one. Will we hear the whispers of our ancestors? Will we hear the whispers of those who have taken the journey, before us? Hearing Whispers is a part of our journey. (Released July 17, 2020)

“Revered,” is a book of verse about the author’s thoughts while this nation is trying to make sense of tumultuous year of 2020. This book will make you think. (Released August 6, 2020)

You can read more about Kendall Thompson in the Alexandria Gazette’s newspaper dated August 12, 2020 on page 8 at http://connectionarchives.com/PDF/2020/081220/Alexandria.pdf.

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