James J. "Babe" Henderson Sr

James J. "Babe" Henderson Sr. (January 22, 1908–February 1998) was a renowned American business and civic leader who made a significant impact on his community. As the first African American Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Hampton University, formerly Hampton Institute. He is widely recognized for his leadership in the finance department and executive positions at Bankers Fire and North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance. 
He served the Durham Housing Authority for 20 years as vice chairman and chairman. He was also affiliated with several community services organizations, such as the Durham Human Relations Commission, the March of Dimes, and the Durham Chamber of Commerce.
In addition to his community service, Henderson's leadership extended to several boards of directors, including the John Avery Boys and Girls Club, the Daisy E. Scarborough Nursery School, the National Negro Business League, and the State of North Carolina Business League. He was also a member of the Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People and served on the Advisory Board of North Carolina Central University and Durham Business College.
Throughout his career, Henderson provided leadership, guidance, and service to the business, civic, and spiritual communities. He passed away in February 1998, but his contributions and legacy continue to live on with a housing facility named after him in downtown Durham, Henderson Towers.
==Early life and education==
He was born and raised in Bristol, Tennessee and graduated from Hampton Institute in Hampton, Virginia.
==Career==
===Professional===
In 1932, he relocated to Durham, North Carolina, and began his career as Chief Bookkeeper and Field Auditor at Bankers Fire Insurance Company. Subsequently, he assumed the position of assistant secretary at Bankers Fire and served on its board of directors. Simultaneously, in 1973, Henderson joined North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company as Chief Clerk. He later established and systematized the real estate department at the company. Over the years, Henderson held several positions of increasing responsibility at North Carolina Mutual, including Manager of the Comptroller Department, Assistant Comptroller, Assistant Treasurer, Treasurer, and ultimately, Financial Vice President, until his retirement in 1973. As Chief Financial Officer for North Carolina Mutual, the largest and most prosperous black-owned business in America during the early 20th century, Henderson provided astute leadership that facilitated the continued growth of the company. He also served in various capacities on the Board of Directors of the Mutual Savings and Loan Association, Mechanics and Farmers Bank, and Chain Investment Corporation. Moreover, Henderson was a founder, co-organizer, president, and treasurer of the Durham Business and Professional Chain.
===Community service===
Henderson was a dedicated community servant who contributed to various organizations and programs. For over 20 years, he served on the Durham Housing Authority, where he held the position of vice chairman for 11 years before becoming chairman in 1971. He retired from this role in the late 1980s. In recognition of his service, a federally financed nine-story housing complex for senior citizens was named after him, the J.J. Henderson Housing Center, in 1978. Additionally, he was involved with the Durham Human Relations Commission, the Board of Directors at the March of Dimes, and the Durham Chamber of Commerce.
 
Henderson's leadership extended to serving on the board of directors for various organizations and programs, including the John Avery Boys and Girls Club, the Daisy E. Scarborough Nursery School, the National Negro Business League, and the State of North Carolina Business League. He was also a member of the board of directors and chairman of the Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People. Furthermore, he served on the advisory boards of North Carolina Central University and Durham Business College.
 
Henderson's expertise was also sought after at an international level. He served as a consultant and member of federal government inspection teams sponsored by the US State Department's Agency for International Development. He provided consultation and advice for development and training programs aimed at improving the economies of developing nations in West Africa.
===Hampton University===
Henderson was dedicated to serving his alma mater, Hampton University, through his work with the National and Regional Hampton Alumni Associations. During his years of service to his alma mater, Hampton Institute, Henderson received recognition for his exceptional dedication. He was awarded the "Hamptonian of the Year" honor by both the National and Regional Hampton Alumni Associations and was among the few alumni to receive the prestigious Hampton "Centennial Medallion" for his outstanding contributions to the university. Henderson served as a member of the Hampton Board of Trustees for more than twenty-five years, having been elected to the position in 1955. His leadership culminated in his retirement as Chairman Emeritus after serving as Chairman of the Board of Trustees for fifteen years, making him the first African American to hold that position at Hampton. Henderson also played a significant role in the establishment of special commissions to appoint the 10th, 11th, and 12th presidents of the university.
===St. Joseph A.M.E Church===
Aside from his contributions to Hampton University, Henderson was a spiritual individual who embodied the principles of positive thinking. He was an active member of St. Joseph’s A.M.E. Church in Durham for more than two decades, where he regularly sang with the senior choir during Sunday morning services. Henderson served on the church’s Board of Trustees and held various positions, including Secretary, Treasurer, Chairman of the Finance Committee, Vice-Chairman, and later Chairman of the St. Joseph’s Church Trustee Board, which he led for 12 years.
 
Following his retirement, Henderson was pivotal in saving the original St. Joseph’s A.M.E. Church building, which was at risk of being demolished due to redevelopment plans in downtown Durham. He utilized his resources of influence, time, energy, and persuasion to ensure the preservation of the historic structure, which has since been transformed into the Hayti Heritage Center, a community cultural arts center.
===Fraternity===
Henderson was an active member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., having been initiated into the Alpha Gamma chapter in 1931 at Virginia Union. He held elected offices on the chapter, regional, and national levels, where he streamlined and strengthened the fraternity's fiscal health and management. Henderson also played a key role in the chartering of the Beta Chi chapter at Hampton Institute. In 1974, he was honored with the Laurel Wreath, the organization's highest award, alongside his fraternity brother, Mayor Thomas Bradley of Los Angeles, at the fraternity's conclave in Las Vegas.
 
In October 2022, the 187-unit JJ Henderson Towers in Durham, NC, underwent a $32 million federally funded renovation project and was rededicated.
==Awards and recognitions==
* He was honored with the Hamptonian of the Year Award by the National and Regional Hampton Alumni Associations for his dedication to the institute. 
* He received the Centennial Medallion Award for his outstanding contributions to the university.
* He was credited with Laurel Wreath Award by the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., in 1974.
==Gallery==
==References==
Category:1908 births
Category:1998 deaths
Category:American financial businesspeople
Category:American business executives
Category:People from Hampton, Virginia