Latanya Henderson
Age - 62
December 5, 2023
Latanya Lynette Jones-Henderson was born in Boston, MA to the late Lorraine "Jumola" Jones-Green and the entire Jones family, all of Boston, MA. She wasn't just Jumola's daughter, but she was everyone's blessing! It wasn't long before the world would feel the lasting impact that she would have on everyone she encountered.
As a young girl, it was evident that "Tanya" was quite the dancing diva! She was often caught popping her fingers to the latest beats and moving her body to the rhythms that serenaded the 60's. Jumola quickly identified her daughter's talents and thought it most befitting to enroll her into the best dancing schools in the city; none other than Roxbury Center for Performing Arts and Elma Lewis School of Dance. Her dedication around perfecting her passion afforded her endless fashion and modeling opportunities; from working under the tutelage of world renown hairstylist James & Haroon to modeling for Revlon and L'Oreal.
Between her frequent travels between Boston and New York, it wasn't long before Latanya entered the world that she would so often dream about. One that included family, friends and fashion. Between grade school and finessing the hallways at Roslindale High School, Tanya met Storm, Shonna and Angie all of whom were more than friends, they were her sisters! Together they wouldn't be caught dead without the latest threads and attitudes to match!
Little did she know that same life would have an unpredictable downside; one that was fast, exhilarating and full of twists and turns. At the tender age of 17, she with Larry gave birth to her pride and joy, Aja Jones. Tanya soon made the determination that the life she had been introduced to wasn't the most conducive for a teen mom raising a young girl. She picked up and moved back to her safe place; back to Harlem under the love and protection of her mom, Jumola. Over the next 7 years of being back in the city, within 18 months of one another, she gave birth to her sons, Khary & Taj Jones. Their births further confirmed that she had to clean up some past mistakes and put her best foot forward in raising the little people she loved so much!
After some time away, she had bounced back better than ever before. She moved back to the beloved city of Boston and used her life experiences to positively impact the lives of youth participants of the Codman Square Health Center and the Tobin Community Center. Right in the basement of 1481 Tremont Street, she started the Tobin Tappers and the Express Yourself youth groups whom she loved dearly. Her lifelong passion for the performing arts coupled with her ability to influence young people, birthed a phenomenon in youth development. It was during this decade that she truly understood and appreciated her God-given purpose.
As destiny would have it, she reunited with Dexter Henderson, the love of her life! Life was finally positively awarding her so much that she and Dexter moved in together, got married and gave birth to their baby girl, Khyla Jones. From this union, Tanya met and fell in love with her stepdaughter, Ladonna Bradford. Seemingly, life felt perfect. . . By the end of three blissful years, destiny would meet fate and life would offer Latanya, now a widow, one of the lowest points of her life. It was a time that offered one blow after another and included more time away, many obstacles and hurdles that seemed almost too hard to clear!
After five years, like Paul & Silas, God spoke to Latanya, shook the walls and unlocked the doors that would allow the world to see His Glory through her life. She was able to write endlessly (publish 2 books, write 2 screen plays and a one woman play), meet and work with representatives from Stellar Adler and encounter many friends and acquaintances that have truly impacted her until this present day. Her new encounter on life allowed her to go back to the fundamentals of the performing arts, take more classes, and move back to Boston to be closer to her children and grandchildren. She started a cleaning business and most recently witnessed her hard work and lifelong dream come full circle by opening her own youth program, "All things Art"!
Through her endeavors with "All things Art", Latanya was elated to fulfill another newfound passion of working with programs and organizations dedicated to the rehabilitation of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women and girls. She appreciated her new friendships by way of the New Beginnings and the Families for Justice as Healing Programs. Her last days could be remembered most surrounded by family and friends, cracking jokes and chomping on ice & popsicles. Some of her happiest moments were watching ratchet TV with Khyla on Monday evenings and receiving early morning annoying wake-up calls from Aja! Her eyes lit up most when Khary and Taj would make sporadic visits. Her life's mission seemed fulfilled most during weekends spent doing various activities with all her grandchildren.
On November 23, 2023, Latanya peacefully transitioned from life on earth surrounded by her children and eldest grandchild. We could all use our imaginations when we think of the smile on her face after reuniting with her mom, the late Lorraine "Jumola" Jones-Green. She leaves to cherish her memories, her daughters: Aja and Khyla Jones & Ladonna Bradford, sons: Khary & Taj Jones, sister: Jonaletha Green, 10 grandchildren, sister cousin: Denise Badgett, "Cousin-Sister-Aunt-Mother": Cheryl Jones, closest friends: Angie Searcy, Shonna Lamos, Barbara "Babsie" Searcy, Storm Bracey, Stacey Borden, Doris Barros-Jones and a host of other relatives and friends.Show more
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