Maria Henderson

Maria Lion Warren Henderson 69, gently passed into the arms of our loving Father in heaven on Tuesday September 13, 2016 at Haven Hospice in Chiefland, Florida. Maria was born in Baltimore, Maryland to Georgia and Franklyn Warren. She and her parents moved to Weaverville, North Carolina and finally settled in Ormond Beach, Florida where Maria attended St. Paul's Catholic School, Father Lopez Senior High School and Daytona Beach Junior College. Maria went on to graduate from the University of Florida.After college Maria began working as a Child Protective Investigator for the Department of Children and Families in Daytona Beach and after moving to the Ocala area she continued her work with DCF , where she spent years protecting the most vulnerable children. During her tenure with the Department she also worked with Adult Protective Services to protect the elderly. After her retirement from DCF Maria continued to use her education and experience to help children by volunteering as a Guardian Ad Litem in Ocala, Florida for 12 years. Maria had a special love for animals. She and her husband Chuck constructed a building to house the many cats she rescued at their home in Morriston, Florida having up to 20 at any one time. Maria also rescued dogs having five at her passing. She devotedly tended to all the animals everyday with the love of a mother. There are countless stories of her rescuing injured wild birds and nursing them back to health, from a large owl in the middle of the highway to the baby woodpecker found outside her home. Maria always had amazing compassion and love for the innocent. Whether it was children, the elderly or the animals, if they could not defend themselves Maria was there. We are all truly blessed to have had her in our lives and our community. Maria is survived by her loving Husband Chuck Henderson, sons Scott Henderson and his wife Maria, and Todd Henderson and his wife Jaime. She also leaves behind twelve beautiful grandchildren : Emily, Maggie, Ashley, Haley, Sarah, Rachel, David, Anna, Zachary, Gavin, Sam, and Tyler. She is also survived by two devoted sisters Mary Jane McMenamy and Carolyn Gafner.A memorial mass will be celebrated for Maria by Fr. Patrick Sheedy Tuesday September 20, 2016 at 11:00am at Blessed Trinity Catholic Church in Ocala, Florida.

Maria Henderson

February 24, 1947 - September 13, 2016