Bernell Lawrence Henderson aka “JR” or “Eight”, passed away in his home from his journey with cancer on April 3, 2022, at the prime age of 57.
Bernell was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on October 21, 1964, and in the year 2000, he was baptized into Christ at the Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church of New Orleans. He graduated from McDonogh 35 Senior High School in 1982, and worked for a while at Lakelawn Cemetery, Tony’s Construction Company, and the Mississippi Queen steamboat before deciding to enlist in the United States Marine Corps where he served from 1983 - 1989 mostly in Twentynine Palms, CA.
When Bernell returned from the Marine Corps, he spent some time living in Battle Creek, MI where he attended Battle Creek Community College and graduated in Business. On one of his many trips back home to New Orleans, Bernell met the beautiful Sandra Barnes of Spokane, WA, and it was that day, he decided that he was moving to Spokane.
Once Bernell made Spokane his home, he attended Spokane Community College and graduated in hotel/restaurant management because he loved to cook and wanted to be his own boss. Bernell had many skills and talents and made use of them all at his various employment sites such as Goodwill Industries, Lowes Home Improvement, Franz Bakery, and an Apartment Management Company here in Spokane before deciding to open his own business to pursue his passion of construction and carpentry. He really enjoyed working with his hands and enjoyed spending time with his fellow veterans at the VA Center.
Bernell met back up with Mrs. Sandra Barnes and eventually made her his wife. Bernell and Sandra enjoyed many of his favorite pastimes together such as watching westerns, listening to R&B and Jazz, taking long drives, and playing the slot machines at the different casinos. Bernell’s motto was, ‘God and family first and nothing else matters’. He was the one that would check up on everybody in the family, especially if he had not heard from you in a while, and then he would pester you and make you promise to keep in touch, but he would always leave you smiling. Bernell touched so many lives with his kindness, sense of humor and love for life; he was just an all-around cool dude that let you know you were important to him, and you matter. If you knew Bernell, you loved him, and if he loved you, you knew it.
Bernell is survived by his wife, Sandra Henderson, and his blended family, (Reggie, Deandrey, Willie, Ruthie & Juquan); his parents, Bernell Sr.(deceased) & Dorothy J. Henderson; one son, Bernell L. Pollard; two grandsons, Bernell T. Pollard and Bentley Bernard; two sisters, Karen(Mark)Glenn and Demetrica(Charles)Bland; two Godbrothers, Eugene Dean and Robert Brown; and a host of other family and friends who will miss him dearly.
The family would like to thank Sunshine Home Health Care & Horizon Hospice and Palliative Care for all they did for Bernell.
A Memorial service for Bernell will take place at 3 p.m. this Holy Saturday, April 16th at Hennessey Valley Funeral Home, Spokane Valley, Washington, and immediately afterward, there will be a dove & balloon release in his honor as well as a reception.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to a cancer center of your choice in Bernell’s name. To share memories of Bernell and leave condolences for the family, please visit Bernell's Tribute Wall.