Zola (Ponder) Henley

Fully spending life was the constant practice of Zola Ponder Jones Henley. On Saturday, June 6, 2020, she discarded her corruptible flesh and moved into that which is incorruptible. Born in Perry, Florida, she was the third of 11 children of Arthur and Willie Mae Ponder. She was educated in the public-school system of Dougherty County, Georgia. After graduating from Madison (Monroe) High School, she continued her educational pursuits at Albany State College (University), Albany Technical Institute, Albany Junior College (Darton) and the Defensive Inventory Management School in Alexandria, Virginia. 

Determined to help mankind, she used her God-given talents and abilities to serve. In the community, she served as president of a number of civic organizations, involved in voter registration efforts, and civil rights crusades to bring about equality and justice. On the local level she spearheaded campaigns to raise money for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital to fight childhood cancer. One of the highlights of that work was her being able to personally meet Danny Thomas, founder of St. Jude. 

Heavily involved in her children's education, she served as President of Parent-Teacher Organizations (PTO) for an elementary and junior high school. This was during segregation. She would often share stories about the group's efforts to fight for new textbooks for school children, instead of the school system distributing their schools old, worn, used books. Under her guidance the junior high school PTO successfully raised funds to provide new uniforms and instruments for the school's band. 

Sister Henley obeyed the Gospel in January 1972 and worked faithfully in the Lord's vineyard. She contributed a considerable amount of time and her talents as a Sunday School teacher, Ladies Class teacher, a Junior Class teacher, a Sister's Class teacher, "Second Teaching" Class teacher and a Youth Committee worker. She also served as a facilitator of the Bible Correspondence Course offered by the River Road (now Gaines Avenue) Church of Christ in Albany, Georgia. She also was speaker and facilitator for numerous Ladies Day programs in Georgia and Alabama. 
After moving to Dothan, she connected with the South Park Church of Christ and was very active in various roles. A committed proponent of Christian education, she was a staunch supporter of Southwestern Christian College in Terrell, Texas, giving financial support to the school for years and had one child and two grandchildren graduate from the institution. 

She was a civil servant for 31-years working at the Marine Corps Logistics Base. Being a trailblazer, she was among the first African­-American females to take on a management role on the base. As a mentor, she helped and encouraged other young employees to help diversify the office and management workforce at MCLB. 

After retirement she devoted much of her time and efforts to personal evangelism (a passion of hers), seeking anyone who would listen and willingly investigate God's word. She considered herself, "just a plain Christian" seeking to obey God. 

Sister Henley took on an entrepreneurial spirit after retirement and became involved in Frankie Jennings Cosmetics, an Atlanta-­based ethnic skin-care and cosmetics multi-level marketing company. Within just a few short months, she became the company's top network marketer. Her success did not go unnoticed as a friend convinced her to join another multi-level marketing firm, Diamite (Goldeq Neo-Life Diamite International). She quickly began rising the ranks in that company and was Candidate Team Director when the flood of' 1994 hit Albany, wiping out their entire inventory. 

She has been a devoted wife to Robert L. Henley, Jr., loving mother to John Lee (Cecelia), Zeronis (William), Reginald (Carolyn) and Zenola (Jarvis); grandmother to DeMarco (Courtney), Will, Kameron, Johnathan, Johnetta, Zelia (Ja'leen) and Javaris; and great­-grandmother to Christine, Arianne, Za'Den, and Ja'Kobi. She has also been an adoptive mother to so many, including Elisa Lewis McKlevey, Jackie Bouldin, and James Scurlark;. an outstanding sister to Clifford, Annie Ruth (Al), Jacquelyn (Milton), Frank, and Patricia (Kary); a caring sister-in-law to Ora, Mary, Earl (Judy), and Mamie. 

Sister Henley fought a good fight; she's finished her course; she kept the faith. She can rest now, knowing that her labor in the Lord has not been in vain. 
 

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