Greetings H&I Family!
The Henderson Institute (HI) Board of Directors sincerely thank our loyal members for your continued support of the overall HI Alumni Association. Your generous donations and volunteer efforts are not only appreciated but essential to the success of the Association and our various programs as outlined below.
*The HI Budget Committee completed the 2025 budget review of the HI Association operations/programs and obtained Board approval. All HI Bank accounts are being reviewed on schedule and reported in a timely manner via online access.
*The doors of the Henderson Institute Historical Museum have remained open to the community/public since the outset in 1983. Subsequently, with the contributions, sponsorships and volunteer efforts of our exceptional HI members and friends of HI, this facility has remained fully functional and accessible since the mid 80’s. Our “HI Museum has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places in The United States of America since November 29, 1995”. Now that’s a BIG Deal!!
-The HI Museum Event Planning Committee and the Museum Facility support members continue to coordinate the activities/events at the Museum, while proactively addressing building maintenance/ repairs and ensuring curb appeal respectively.
-The Committee members conduct Museum tours, historical roundtable discussions along with question-and-answer sessions to educate the public by providing an opportunity for them to access the incredible history of our Henderson/Vance County Afro-American educational experience.
*The HI Museum College Awareness Event was a very successful achievement. Parents and students were provided with helpful college readiness materials, encouraged to stay on course during challenging times and advised on the life of a college student.
*Both the HI Museum Veterans Day Ceremony and Veteran Networking Event were a big hit. As a result of these events HI and the Vance County Veterans Service Office developed an ongoing partnership. This relationship will prove to be extremely beneficial to our HI Veteran community.
If you happen to be in town during the Holidays/Events listed below, stop by and absorb the charm of our Historic HI Museum/Treasure.
- MLK Day & Black History Month
- Juneteenth & July 4th; HI Reunion & Veterans Day
- Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Year days
*The HI Association and Vance County Board of Education established a partnership in 2019, and as a result, both groups remain fully committed to advancing educational opportunities for Henderson/Vance College-Bound Students. This partnership has helped solidify the Henderson/Vance community’s participation in the Alfred Street Baptist Church-Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Annual Scholarship Festival.
HI Fundraiser Committee
The Committee continue to work with the HI Golf enthusiasts and many generous sponsors via our HI Annual Elijah Nicholson Golf Outing to raise funding to allow the Henderson/Vance Junior and Senior College-Focused students to attend the Alfred Street Baptist Church-HBCU Annual Scholarship Festival. Through your generous support we continue reach the cost requirements for this program.
HI Scholarship Committee:
The Committee continues to review and approve qualified students for the annual Robert Bogan Scholarship Program. The Vance County Bd. of Ed. also contributes to the continued success of this program by actively engaging in the process of providing qualified student candidates.
HI Website Committee:
Board is pleased to report on the continued success of our Website.
All Members with HI Website access can use the HI Website (Henderson-Institute.org) to:
- Register for the Reunion
- Pay annual membership due
- Make donations/contributions online to the:
- Museum Operating Account
- Association Operating Account
- Scholarship Account Fund
- Museum Endowment Account
All donations are tax deductible, and proof of donations can be provided at the donor’s request.
Please continue to visit the HI Website (Henderson-Institute.org) frequently for information and future events. Last year’s reunion photos were posted on the site and are currently available for your viewing pleasure.
Important: Member dues/Reunion registration & Donations/Contributions can also be mailed in via the U.S. Postal Service:
Make your check payable:
TO: Henderson Institute Alumni Association, Inc.
Check amount: Member dues ($25) / Reunion Registration ($85) plus Contributions ($) / Donations ($) Provide the reason for your contribution(s) in the memo section on your check.
Mail Check to:
Henderson Institute Graduates and Former Students Assoc. Inc.
Post Office Box 2081
Henderson NC. 27536
Att. John Hodge
The HI Committees / Members:
Budget Committee:
John Hodge – Chairman – Class of 69
Barbara Crews – Assist. Chair – Class of 69
Dorothy Henderson -– Class of 68
Karen Johnson – Class of 70
Janice Woods – Class of 69
Larry Carroll – Class of 69
Calvin Thompson – Class of 6
William Holden – Class of 69
Fundraiser Committee:
James Ragland- Class of 70
John Martin – Class of 70
Janice Woods – Class of 69
Jeanette Kingsberry -Legacy Member
William Holden – Class of 69
Museum Event Planning Committee Members:
*Chairperson – Karen P. Johnson – Class of 70
*Vice Chairman – James’ ‘Sonny’ Henderson -Class of 66
Bd. Vice Chair – Larry Carroll Class of 69
Treasurer – Dorothy Henderson -Class of 68
Member – Jeanette Kingsberry – Legacy Member
Member – LeVerne Burwell-Grant – Class of 69
Member – Rodney Kingsberry – Class of 69
Jackie Woodard– Chair HI College Awareness Event – Class of 70
*Museum Key Facility Support Personnel:
Willie Holloway – Class of 57
James Henderson – Class of 66
Bd. Vice Chair Larry Carroll – Class of 69
Fin. Secretary John Hodges Sr. – Class of 69
*Museum Phone Call Management:
Dorothy T. Justice – Class of 68
*Robert Bogan National Scholarship Committee:
Chair -Robert Bogan -Class of 57
Ed Ellis -Class of 60
Anita Bailey – Class of 64
Vivian Bullock – Class of 72
James Harrison – Class of 62
Barbara Massey – Class of 69
Elnora O’Hara
Deborah Brown – Class of 68
Geraldine Floyd – Class of 62
LaVerne “Lucy” Johnson-Pruden -Class of 69
Jacqueline Woodard – Class of 70
Website Committee:
Jackie Woodard Co- Chair -Class of 70
Frederick Williams – Co-Chair Class of 70
Chris Culpepper -Website Development
Constitution & By-Laws Committee:
Calvin Thompson -Class of 69
Janice Woods -Class of 69
Ruth Wilson -Class of 70
John ‘Rip’ Martin – Class of 70
*HI National Executive Committee (HI’s largest committee):
-Reunion Planning Committee – Primary Committee
*Calvin Thompson -President-Class of 69
*Saundra Jones – Vice President -Class of 68
Financial Secretary – John Hodge – Class of ’69
Assist. Financial Secretary – Barabara Crews -Class of 69 Treasurer – Dorothy Henderson – Class of ‘68 Membership – Vera Hodge – Class of ‘69
Secretary – Evelyn Alston -Class of 68
Assist. Secretary – James Harrison – Class of 62
National Awards -Rev. Ola Thorpe-Copper -Class of 62
National Scholarship – Robert Bogan – Class of 57
Alice Clements – Legacy Member
Fedora Daye -Legacy member
Anita Hicks Legacy member
Parliamentarian Gilbert McKnight -Class of 56
Chaplin Susan Warren – Class of 57 Necrology – LeVerne Burwell-Grant – Class of ‘69 Publications – Ruth Helen Wilson – Class of ’70
Sargeant-at-Arms -Willie Holloway -Class of 57
Museum Public Operating Hours Below:
Monday — Wednesday & Friday, Saturday, by Appointment Only
Call Main HI phone (252) 430-0616, leave your message, you’ll be contacted within 72 hours to begin your visit scheduling process
-The Museum is open every Thursday, 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM
-A group of ten or more must call the Museum, (252) 430-0616, 72 hours in advance to schedule a visit.
** Again, we thank all the HI members for their true dedication, love and support of our HI legacy and our Historical HI Museum.
Speaking of Museums: Below Bill Barrow who covers US politics note the following:
“The Afro-American museum, one of 21 distinct Smithsonian entities, opened along the National Mall in 2016. The museum chronicles chattel slavery, Jim Crow segregation and its lingering effects, but also highlights the determination, successes and contributions of individual Black Americans and Black Institutions throughout U.S. History.
The current Administration has empowered his second in command to review all properties, programs, presentations and to prohibit programs that ‘degrade shared American values” or “divide Americans based on race.” “
We selected an appropriate quote for the Chaiman’s greeting annually. However, last year’s quote from former First Lady Michelle Obama still rings as louder than ever.
So please re-read the former First Lady’s quote below:
“The ability to read, write, and analyze; the confidence to stand up and demand justice and equality; the qualifications and connections to get your foot in the door and take your seat at the table — all of that starts with education.”
Michelle Obama
One of Maya Angelou’s quotes is really needed in this season: “Courage is the most important of all virtues because without courage, you can’t practice any other virtue consistently.”
Take heart and ask God to give you the discernment and the courage to stand in His strength in this season. “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love and of a sound mind.” NKJV
“Let’s We Forget”!
William “Bill” Holden,
Chairman