Obi Henderson: A Case Study
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — More than 150 people attended a vigil Friday to honor a Charleston youth mentor.
Obi Henderson, 31, of Charleston, died Monday in a car accident on Corridor G in South Charleston. According to witnesses, his vehicle came off Parkway Avenue and plunged over a steep embankment.
Henderson founded DREAMS Community Development Corp. in 2013, a non-profit group that works with youth to improve leadership and public speaking skills.
A group of Henderson's former mentees organized the vigil at Mary C. Snow West Side Elementary School.
Jon'Nease Copening, who met Henderson in 2015, moved to Florida before the start of this school year.
"He wanted you to do good," Copening said. "We talked about how it was important to love each other and …show more content…
stay strong with our community, and education was a big factor."
Copening, 12, said she and Henderson would talk on the phone after she moved to Florida.
"At the end of every conversation, he said, 'I love you.'"
She was in Charleston this week for spring break when she heard the news of Henderson's death, and led organizing the ceremony.
The vigil opened with a prayer by Rev. Dr. Felicia Wooten Williams, a pastor at Simpson Memorial United Methodist Church and St. Stephens United Methodist Church. Williams said Henderson's impact will be felt throughout Charleston's West Side for years to come.
"Obi was a star among us," she said. "We may seemingly did not recognize that, or he may not have known just how brightly he shined toward us."
Numerous people spoke at the vigil about Henderson's mentoring work and passion for community.
Tuesday Taylor was working at Kanawha County Youth Reporting Center in 2011 when she met Henderson. She said when she moved to Ohio in 2015, she always thought of Henderson's work in Charleston.
"When I asked Obi, "What is DREAMS?" he said, "That's my dream I want to give to everybody, because if everybody grabs a hold of this dream, it's nothing going to be a dream because it's going to be a reality," she said.
Taylor moved back to Charleston in February 2017, and considered quitting youth program work until talking to
Henderson.
"He looked at me and said, 'That's your passion, that's your gift.'"
Cheryl Plear, principal at Mary C. Snow West Side Elementary School, said the rest of the school year would be dedicated to Henderson.
The vigil's conclusion included lighting candles, singing "Amazing Grace" and releasing white balloons in Henderson's honor. People attached notes to the balloons, all of which included a personal message for Henderson.
Copening said the people who attended is just a fraction of those impacted by Henderson.
"Mr. Obi was loved from everyone, so we knew it was going to be big," she said.
A memorial service will be held Tuesday at the First Baptist Church of Charleston. The remembrance will begin at 5:30 p.m. with friend testimonials, followed by the ceremony at 6:30 p.m.
Obi Henderson, 31, of Charleston, died Monday in a car accident on Corridor G in South Charleston. According to witnesses, his vehicle came off Parkway Avenue and plunged over a steep embankment.
Henderson founded DREAMS Community Development Corp. in 2013, a non-profit group that works with youth to improve leadership and public speaking skills.
A group of Henderson's former mentees organized the vigil at Mary C. Snow West Side Elementary School.
Jon'Nease Copening, who met Henderson in 2015, moved to Florida before the start of this school year.
"He wanted you to do good," Copening said. "We talked about how it was important to love each other and …show more content…
stay strong with our community, and education was a big factor."
Copening, 12, said she and Henderson would talk on the phone after she moved to Florida.
"At the end of every conversation, he said, 'I love you.'"
She was in Charleston this week for spring break when she heard the news of Henderson's death, and led organizing the ceremony.
The vigil opened with a prayer by Rev. Dr. Felicia Wooten Williams, a pastor at Simpson Memorial United Methodist Church and St. Stephens United Methodist Church. Williams said Henderson's impact will be felt throughout Charleston's West Side for years to come.
"Obi was a star among us," she said. "We may seemingly did not recognize that, or he may not have known just how brightly he shined toward us."
Numerous people spoke at the vigil about Henderson's mentoring work and passion for community.
Tuesday Taylor was working at Kanawha County Youth Reporting Center in 2011 when she met Henderson. She said when she moved to Ohio in 2015, she always thought of Henderson's work in Charleston.
"When I asked Obi, "What is DREAMS?" he said, "That's my dream I want to give to everybody, because if everybody grabs a hold of this dream, it's nothing going to be a dream because it's going to be a reality," she said.
Taylor moved back to Charleston in February 2017, and considered quitting youth program work until talking to
Henderson.
"He looked at me and said, 'That's your passion, that's your gift.'"
Cheryl Plear, principal at Mary C. Snow West Side Elementary School, said the rest of the school year would be dedicated to Henderson.
The vigil's conclusion included lighting candles, singing "Amazing Grace" and releasing white balloons in Henderson's honor. People attached notes to the balloons, all of which included a personal message for Henderson.
Copening said the people who attended is just a fraction of those impacted by Henderson.
"Mr. Obi was loved from everyone, so we knew it was going to be big," she said.
A memorial service will be held Tuesday at the First Baptist Church of Charleston. The remembrance will begin at 5:30 p.m. with friend testimonials, followed by the ceremony at 6:30 p.m.