In loving memory of Major Georgia Helen Henderson
November 29, 1942 – February 25, 2026
Just like that - in the twinkling of an eye, Georgia was absent from the body and present with the
Lord. Absolutely incredible! The "life of the party" walked into her own celebration with the
grandest welcome, and the party is just getting started. Yet another miracle of healing following
two previous bouts of cancer, but this healing is her most marvelous miracle of all. Our hearts
will ache like never before. But for this moment, we are so very happy for our beautiful Georgia
– wife, mother, grandmother, "Grandma-Great", sister, aunt, cousin, and friend!
Georgia Helen was the oldest child born to Salvation Army officer parents, then Captains Harlan and Ethel (Jones) Cleveland in Atlanta, Georgia. As the family grew with additions of siblings,
Paul and Dorothy, they lived in Charlotte, NC, Shreveport, LA, Oklahoma City, and various cities
across the southeast states of the Southern Territory. The children were taught at the earliest
ages of Christ's love in action through the example of their parents. Georgia shared in her
written testimony that although she cannot remember the very moment she asked forgiveness
and gave her life to Jesus, any more than a child could recall first meeting his own parents, she
is certain of a point in time at which she first determined to belong to Jesus, because "His
presence has changed my life from what it might have been, and it has been nurtured in his
love."
Georgia graduated from Harding High School in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and from Asbury
College in Wilmore, Kentucky with an B.A. in Education. She taught first grade students in The
Salvation Army Hogar del Ninos of Mexico City, and sixth grade students in Dekalb County,
Atlanta, GA. Called to officership, she entered The Salvation Army College for Officer Training and was
ordained and commissioned in 1967. The very next day she married Captain Robert Henderson
who was teaching at The Salvation Army College for Officer Training. Together they served as Corps Officers in Birmingham, Alabama; in Mississippi at Greenville and Gulfport-Biloxi; in North Carolina at Wilson and Charlotte Temple, in Maryland at Cumberland and Hagerstown. They also served as Divisional Youth Leaders of the Oklahoma- Arkansas Division and the Georgia Division.

In 2001, Bob and Georgia retired to Georgia's mother's hometown of St. Petersburg, Florida.
Well, she kind of retired… In "retirement", Georgia continued her ministry within the St. Pete
corps, playing her alto in the band, singing in the songsters, leading Bible studies and prayer
groups for women, teaching Sunday School, Jr. Soldiers, Corps Cadets and serving as the
Young People's Sergeant Major until 2020. She even drove the 15-passenger van! She also
gave post-retirement service to the St. Petersburg Area Command as Volunteer Coordinator
and as chaplain to the Sallie House and Children's Village, a long-term residential foster care for
children. Georgia regularly served coffee and offered prayer and pastoral care for US veterans
at the VA Hospital with her parents, Lt. Colonels Harlan and Ethel Cleveland and her husband,
Major Bob. She led visitation teams to the elderly who were living in residential facilities across
the St. Petersburg area. Possibly the ministry closest to her heart was not a program or
organized effort, but simply her genuine love and care for young adults. Since her Promotion to
Glory, many young adults have publicly testified of the impact she had on their lives – leading
several to Christ, offering wise counsel and practical support that many had never experienced before. Throughout her life, Major Georgia loved and served others as the hands and feet of Jesus.

Left to cherish Georgia's memory and try, as we might, to fill her shoes, are her loving husband
of nearly 59 years, Major Bob Henderson; her children, Major Julie (Chuck) Whiten, Major
Cameron (Paula) Henderson, Todd (Pamela) Henderson, Craig (Erin) Henderson; grandchildren
Jamie Whiten, Kellie (Whiten) Hurtsellers, Cameron Henderson, Cecilie Whiten, Emilie Whiten,
Ellison Henderson, Lily, Violet and Reid Henderson; and great-grandsons, Henry and Benjamin
Hurtsellers. She is also survived by her brother, Paul Cleveland and sister, Dorothy Pointer, as
well as several nieces, nephews and cousins whom she loved so much.

In Georgia's last conversations to her family, she reminded them "I'll be in heaven soon watching for you. But no hurry!"

A Bible verse engraved in Bob and Georgia's wedding rings sums up their life and ministry
together. "And we know that all things work together for good to them who are called by
God according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

Family will receive friends at The Salvation Army St. Petersburg Corps, 3800 9th Avenue North,
St. Petersburg, FL on Monday, March 2nd from 4:00 to 7:00 pm. A Celebration of Life service
will be held at The Salvation Army St. Petersburg Corps on Tuesday, March 3rd at 11:00 am
with visitation before the service from 9:30 to 10:30 am. Interment will follow at Memorial Park
Cemetery

5750 49th Avenue North, St. Petersburg.
The St. Petersburg Corps will host a time of refreshments and sharing memories and tributes
in the fellowship hall immediately following interment.
In lieu of flowers, the family wishes donations referencing Major Georgia Henderson be made to
The Salvation Army, 340 14th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. Your generosity will
benefit the Sallie House and Children's Village of the St. Petersburg Area Command.