NORRIDGEWOCK – Twaunda B. Henderson, 89, passed away Monday, March 19, 2012, with her family by her side at her residence. She was born April 29, 1922, in Pauls Valley, Okla., daughter of Robert H. Wilmot and Clema A. (Fuller) Wilmot, the second of seven children.
Twaunda was educated at Wynnewood High School in Oklahoma. After high school she went to California to live with an aunt that had acted in silent movies. She worked in a drug store and during the war years she operated a streetcar in San Diego. She married Clyde Henderson, Nov. 25, 1948, in Norridgewock, and raised three children. They were married 58 years when Clyde passed away Feb. 7, 2006. Twaunda spent many years making a home for her family. She later worked for Norrwock Shoe Co., Skowhegan and Norridgewock. For many of the 38 years Clyde worked for CMP Co., Twaunda was an unofficial employee, collecting electric bill money from customers. During power outages she would spend many hours taking trouble calls and relaying them to the main office. She was always doing crafts in her spare time like sewing and quilting. After learning ceramics she turned that hobby into a business. For the better part of 20 years she gave classes at her home studio. There never was a year she did not have a garden. As soon as it was warm enough she would kick off her shoes and spend the summer barefoot tending flowers and vegetables.
She is survived by her children, Joanne Henderson of Philadelphia, Robert Henderson of Williamstown, Vt., and Scott Henderson and his wife, Dori, of Norridgewock; siblings, Juanita McPhetridge of El Centro, Calif., and Jimielou Ott of Pauls Valley, Okla.; four grandchildren, Erik, Mikayla, Katelyn and Daniel; one great-grandson, Daniel; several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, her husband; and her siblings, Robylee Henson, Ollie Booker, Arella McAvoy and Alfred H. Wilmot. We express our gratitude to the nurses and staff of Health-Reach Hospice and the wonderful ladies of Assistance Plus.
Viewing hours will be held 5-8 p.m. Friday, March 23, at Smart & Edwards Funeral Home, 183 Madison Ave., Skowhegan. A funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, March 24, at First Congregational Church, 32 River Road, Norridgewock, with Pastor Nathan Richards officiating. Burial will take place later in the spring at Sunsetview Cemetery, Norridgewock. Donations may be made in Twaunda’s memory to Hospice Volunteers of Somerset County, P.O. Box 3069, Skowhegan, ME 04976.