Oral history with Mr. Al Henderson

              Oral history with Mr. Al Henderson
F341.5 . M57 vol. 607
Funding for this project provided by The Mississippi State Legislature, The Mississippi Humanities Council, The Mississippi Department of Archives and History, and the Center for Oral History and Cultural Heritage at the University of Southern Mississippi.
This transcription of an oral history by the Center for Oral History and Cultural Heritage of The University of Southern Mississippi may not be reproduced or published in any form except that quotation of short excerpts of unrestricted transcripts and the associated tape recordings is permissible providing written consent is obtained from the Center for Oral History and Cultural Heritage. When literary rights have been retained by the interviewee, written permission to use the material must be obtained from both the interviewee and the Center for Oral History and Cultural Heritage. Please call ( 601) 266- 4574 for more information.
Biography
Albert Lloyd Henderson was born in 1928 as William Eugene Ramsey but was adopted in infancy. When he was thirty- nine years old, he found his birth family, five sisters and two brothers.
Mr. Henderson grew up in Monroe, Louisiana. In 1945, he joined the U. S. Navy and served until 1949. After service, he worked at various business jobs until he became an appraiser and real estate broker. He worked as an appraiser at Hattiesburg’s Magnolia Federal for almost eighteen years, before retiring in 1994.
Mr. Henderson married Irene White of Bassfield, Mississippi, in 1950, and they have two daughters, two granddaughters, two great- granddaughters, and one great- grandson. The couple enjoys spending their retired time at church, traveling, and visiting friends and relatives.
Table of Contents
I. Adopted family members and growing up
II. Memories of life during World War II
III. Service in the U. S. Navy
IV. G. I. Bill; loan and appraisal work
V. Memories of race relations in ‘ 50s and ‘ 60s
VI. Marriage and early family life
VII. First discovery of being adopted
VIII. The search for adoption records and finding family members
IX. Discovering sisters in Corinth
X. Meeting the rest of the family
XI. Importance of finding family members
XII. Effect on the wife and children
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