Lawrence Ray Henson

Lawrence Ray Henson, 84, of Cleveland, passed away on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at Bolivar Medical Long Term Care.

Visitation will be held Tuesday, February 3, 2026, from 12:00 PM until 1:00 PM at Cleveland Funeral Home. The Celebration of Life Funeral Service will follow at 1:00 PM in the Cleveland Funeral Home Chapel. Reverend Hal Hardy and friend Keith Kendall will officiate the services. 

Lawrence was born in Cleveland, MS, to Merrial Douglas Henson and Effie Ray Sims Henson on January 18, 1942. He worked for the Bolivar County Community Action Program (Head Start) for 20 years and the Mississippi Department of Corrections, Parchman, MS, for 16 years, retiring in 2002. He would kiddingly tell his friends that "he went from taking care of babies to taking care of grown babies". After retirement, his hobby was genealogy, tracing some families back to the 1100s. He was active in civic affairs, a member of the Cleveland Jaycees (Junior Chamber of Commerce), where he chaired the Cleveland Christmas parade for almost ten years. He was a certified CPR instructor with the American Heart Association. He was a member of The Mid Delta Gospel Music Association, a local group that promoted gospel music. He also promoted local gospel quartets in the local area churches. He was also a member of the Bolivar County Civil Defense, now called the Bolivar County Emergency Management Agency. Lawrence loved reunions, for family and for friends. The "Ray Reunion" was a highlight annually for over fifty years, and his class reunions, which he played a big part in, were some of his best memories. Now he is having the best reunion of all! He was a member of Victory Heights Baptist Church in Cleveland, MS.

Lawrence is preceded in death by his parents, Merrial Douglas Henson and Effie Ray Sims Henson, his brothers, James Terrell Sims, Billy Troy Sims, Robert Douglas Henson, Larry Dean Henson, and sisters, Nellie Warren Childress, Lucille Sims Oakes, and Sherline Henson Carey. He is survived by a sister, Janie Henson Hardy (Harold) of Cumming, GA, and his nieces, Laura Haire, Deb Muncher, and Diane Horton, his nephews, EG Waren, Leslie Warren, Bert Oakes, Hal Hardy, and Chris Hardy.

Pallbearers will be Leon Weeks, Ben Bailey, Chris Hardy, EG Warren, Bert Oakes, Spence Abraham, and Father Kent Bowles.

Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

We deeply appreciate the care of the staff and caregivers at Bolivar Medical Long Term Care.

Cleveland Funeral Home has been honored to serve Lawrence's family during this difficult time.