Joseph Lawrence Henley

Joseph Lawrence Henley, Sr., was born to the late Joseph and Lucinda Jones Henley on March 23, 1934 in Baltimore, Maryland. He peacefully departed this life on December 14, 2001, at Sinai Hospital. In 1966 Joe married the former Martha Vonzella Watts, whom he always called “Lu”. From this union they were blessed with a son, Joseph, Jr. He also was “Dad” to Stephen and John Snowden. As a youth, Joe accepted his Lord and Savior and was baptized into the fellowship of Morning Star Baptist Church where he worshiped along with his mother for many years. Joe often recalled childhood memories of going to Trinity Baptist Church with his father. He was educated in the Baltimore City Public Schools, graduating from Frederick Douglass High School, February class of 1953. Joe worked for Yellow Cab, Bethlehem Steel and the Baltimore City Department of Transit and Traffic. He was the First African-American Draftsman in the Transit and Traffic Division. The United States Army drafted Joe for two years of service. He was honorably discharged in 1958. After the Army, Joe attended Catonsville Community College and the Maryland Institute, now the Maryland Institute of Art. He graduated from the Institute in 1965, receiving the Peabody Award from the Institute’s school of design. Tartar & Kelly Architects employed him where he worked on such notable projects as the Towson Library and the Lafayette Square Multipurpose center. Later he joined the Baltimore City Public Schools as a senior architect, where he remained for twenty-five years until his retirement in 1996. Joe belonged to many professional and community organizations among them the Airgoras Service Club. The Airgoras recently celebrated their 50th anniversary. Joe also worked for many years with the Forest Park Neighborhood association but reluctantly resigned his presidency due to his failing health. He was a baseball coach and an umpire for the Forest Park Little League. Joe volunteered his time to many civic organizations and had an enthusiastic interest in urban design. Over the years, he received numerous awards and commendations for his community activism. Recently, Joe received the Heroes of the Community Award from councilwoman Helen Holton. Christian, Father, Dad, Protector (especially of “Lu”) family man who was most comfortable at home. He often said, “If you can’t be happy here (home), you can’t be happy anywhere”. Those left with beautiful memories of him include his beloved wife, Martha; sons, Joseph Jr., Stephen and John Snowden; one sister, Alice Sells,a daughter-in-law, Sydney Henley; six-month old grandson, Ethan T. Henley; an aunt, Lucy Yancey; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and friends.

Tributes

Joseph Lawrence Henley

March 23, 1934 - December 14, 2001