Born Mary Elizabeth Bradshaw
on August 7, 1927 in Kansas City , Kansas to Mattie louise and
Raymond M Bradshaw Sr.. Mary's family moved to Gary Indiana in 1933.
She graduated from Roosevelt High SchooL As a Psychology and
Sociology major, she earned her Bachelor 01 Science degree from
Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Mary was joined In Holy
matrimony to Louis Charles Henry, a welder with whom she had four
sons: Raymond, Louis, Craig and Paul. She relocated to Los Angeles in
1958 and has been involved in the social, educational, religious and
political and health fields in California for more than 40 years.
Mary B. Henry was a Civil Rights Activist who helped create the
national Head Start Program and fostered the rise of the Martin
Luther King Jr. Drew Medical Center from the ashes of the 1965 Watts
Riots. Her lifelong work to provide quality education and social
services to the poor was honored by presidents, governors and mayors
over more than four decades and left an indelible mark on the
community and her name on facilities treating the needy. She served
on President Johnson's War on Poverty task force that led to the Head
Start program that brings nutrition and early childhood education to
inner-city children. She was best known for her work catering to
local needs as director of the Avalon-Carver Community Center serving
South-Central los Angeles. When she retired Governor Brown told her
that in honor of her achievements he was going to appoint eight Black
judges to offices. She also served three terms as a Member and as
President of the Compton Unified School District Board of Trustees,
where she pressed fellow trustees to more aggressively tackle drug
and gang problems and to build up poor children's self-esteem. Mary
B. Henry served the Los Angeles Community with distinction for over
30 years as Executive Director of the Avalon Carver Community Center,
She has conducted seminars for UCLA and several other universities
and colleges.
Mary was involved in such organizations as Pueblo Del Rio Council,
CA Center for Community Development, Legislative Committee to the
Sate Dept. of Social Welfare, Women's Job Corps Advisory Board,
Community Skills Center, Citizen's Committee for Community Action,
Board Member and President of the Compton Unified School District,
Board Member of the Los Angeles Urban Coalition, Neighborhood Legal
SefVicas, Office 01 Urban Affairs 01 the Los Angeles City Schools,
Los Angeles Bicentennial Committee, Commissioner of the Southeast
General Hospital Authority, National Board American Lutheran Church
Commission of the Third Century and more.
Mary has been the recipient 01 numerous awards and honors. Among
them she received the "Los Angeles limes Woman of the Year'"
award in 1967 for her outstanding contribution in the deveiopment of
a national anti~poverty project of President Johnson's
administration. From this project the Greater los Angeles Community
Action Agency, formerly the Economic Youth Opportunity Agency was
established. Additional awards include but are not limited to: The
Thurgood Marshall Humanitarian Award from the Interchange for
Community Action, Community Relations Award from the National Council
of Negro Women, Honorary Doctorate of Humanities from Windsor
University, Civic Awareness Award from The Los Angeles Urban League
Guild, and Outstanding Achievement In Community Services from the
PTA. Mary B. Henry has had the fortune of being honored by Presidents
John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson and Jimmy Carter.
She was preceded in death by her husband: Louis Charles Henry, her
eldest son Raymond B. Henry, parents Raymond and Mattie Bradshaw, and
brother Roy E, Bradshaw. Left to cherish her loVIng memory are: sons
Louis, Paul and Craig Henry, brother Raymond M. BradShaw Jr., sisters
A. Geraldine Pye, and Joan B. Shaw, grandchildren: LaShon, laMarr and
lellcia Henry, Andrea and Rae Henry, cherished nieces and nephews:
Gordon Bradshaw, Sandra Bradshaw, Ramona (Lloyd) Gilmore, Charlotte,
Brenda, Kevin and Lori Pya, Kathy (Ray) Damper, Ronald (Rochelle)
Shaw, leslie (Laydlng) Bright, Kelly (Kelvin) Squires, Laurence
(Deborah), Cheryl, Bonita and Tert Bradshaw, Lisa Bradshaw and a host
of caring, loving nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends.
We'll forever miss her and
keep her in our hearts. |
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