TAMPA, Fla. — Gwendolyn Henderson, a Tampa City Councilwoman who passed away last week, was honored with a homegoing service on Tuesday.
Officials, friends, family, and community members packed Allen Temple AME Church in Tampa and its overflow room, filling every seat and leaving standing room only.
"Gwen, if you know her and you met her, you will never forget her," said friend Tonya Holden.
WATCH Gwendolyn Henderson, a Tampa City Councilwoman who passed away last week, was honored with a homegoing service on Tuesday.
Dozens of people paid their respects to Henderson. When asked to describe their beloved friend, people who attended the service weren't short for words.
"She's a people's person," said friend Chloe Coney. "She was an extraordinary person that did extraordinary things."
"She is that force to be reckoned with," said Holden.
"She was a woman that was dedicated to her community," said friend Bishop Michelle Patty. "She loved her community, and she was an educator, we must never forget that."
Henderson's death was confirmed by Tampa Mayor Jane Castor and Tampa City Council Chairman Alan Clendenin on June 10. She was 60.
Friends and loved ones knew Henderson as a teacher, a business owner, a passionate leader, and a listener.
"I knew her from the HART transportation board," said John Green. "That's when I first met her, and I was passing out information, and she was the only one who actually took the information and read it, and that inspired me."
WATCH the homegoing service for Gwendolyn Henderson
Henderson was sworn into Tampa City Council in May 2023, making a big impact in her time serving the city, now remembered as a champion for the community whose legacy will live on.
"She was a force of nature," said Mayor Castor. "Everybody that knows her, we are certainly going to miss her."
The City released the following statement last week:
A West Tampa native, Councilwoman Henderson touched the lives of many as a teacher, community activist, and elected official. She was sworn into the Tampa City Council on May 1, 2023 and shortly after became Chair of the Community Redevelopment Agency.
Councilwoman Henderson was a powerhouse in our community — she was a teacher, business owner, and champion for African-American culture and Tampa’s history. Her sense of humor energized our city and her loss leaves a deep void for all of us.
Councilwoman Henderson brought passion, empathy, and deep community knowledge to her role. Elected in 2023, she was known for her fierce advocacy on issues of education, equity, and economic opportunity. Prior to serving on City Council, she spent decades as a dedicated educator with Hillsborough County Public Schools and served on the City of Tampa’s Citizens Review Board. She was the current chair of Tampa’s Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), a small business owner and a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
The City of Tampa extends its deepest condolences to her family, loved ones, and all those impacted by this tremendous loss.
Councilwoman Henderson died of natural causes in her home overnight. Tampa Fire Rescue personnel responded to an emergency medical call this morning and transported Councilwoman Henderson to the hospital, where life-saving efforts were unsuccessful.
According to a biography on the City of Tampa website, Henderson attended all local schools, including Roland Park Elementary and West Tampa Junior High School.
After graduating from Jefferson High School, she received a Bachelor of Science degree in education from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) and a Master of Education and Education Specialist degree in educational leadership and higher education administration from Saint Leo University.
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