Susan Annette Henderson

It is with heavy hearts and profound gratitude for the life she shared, that the family of Reverend Susan Annette (Coleman) Henderson announces her passing on July 17, 2026, in Falls Church, Virginia. Born on August 3, 1956, in St. Louis, Missouri, she lived a life of faith, service, and dedication to her family, Church, and community.

Born the granddaughter of a Baptist Minister, Susan was always a Child of God. With hymns embedded deep from learning by rote, her light shone brightly and her faith warmed all in her presence.

As a young woman, wife, and mother, she found early callings in ministry and education, serving with her then-husband Ken as Youth Group Advisors, and immersively aiding her children’ s preschool and elementary schools.

In an interview with a local paper introducing her as the new pastor, Susan explained “I was born and bred in the church, and faith has always been central to my life, so when my youngest child was in first grade, I decided to go back to school.”

Susan began her formal path to ministry in 1985 at Bangor Theological Seminary in Bangor, Maine in a unique program that essentially merged the Bachelors and Masters curricula. She transferred to Andover Newton Theological School in Andover, Massachusetts, earning her Master of Divinity in 1990, and then completed her Bachelor’s work at Springfield College, School of Human Services in Manchester, New Hampshire. This led to her Ordination into ministry in the United Church of Christ on January 12, 1992.

Susan served as an Associate Pastor in multiple congregations in New Hampshire, with focuses on Christian Education and Outdoor Ministries. A particularly unique and meaningful role was as Chaplain at Horton Center, the church camp nestled in New Hampshire’s White Mountains.

Much of her work, however, was as an Interim Pastor, an important ministry guiding churches through grief, reconciliation, and visioning during the transition between permanent pastors. She performed this work not only at the local level, but as the Interim Conference Minister of the New Hampshire Conference, UCC and then the Vermont UCC Conference, a “Pastor to Pastors,” for several years. Her formal Ministry concluded with local churches of the Potomac Association of the Central Atlantic Conference, UCC.

Susan also served in several capacities at the denomination level, working with the United Church Board for Homeland Ministries, as General Synod delegate and Consensus Consultant, and as an enthusiastic life-long fan of Synod musical guest, Sweet Honey in the Rock.

Education was always important to Susan. Her commitment to her children’s education shifted from activities like being an elementary school aide to helping with homework in the seminary library. It also led her to support and enable them to transfer to a boarding school, Northfield Mount Hermon, where they could truly thrive, even though it broke her heart to be apart from them.

Between her many pastoral positions, Susan returned to her alma mater and served as the Site Director and Associate Professor of the Manchester, NH campus of Springfield College, School of Human Services. Susan had many contributions to the school and community; of note were receiving a commendation for engaging a potential jumper on the bridge above the school until emergency services arrived, and semesters of teaching “Unlearning Racism” as a Black woman to classrooms full of white, male, police officers.

Even as she entered memory care at Arden Courts in Annandale, Virginia, her lifelong ministry continued informally, serving as a source of strength for others and a vital anchor for her own soul. Known as Reverend Susan, her pastoral gift welcomed, comforted, and uplifted nurses, staff, residents and their families.

Both her ministerial and educational careers, her life before and beyond, were characterized by a passion for life, working for justice, and love for humanity.

Beyond her ministry, Susan found joy in quilting—a craft that reflected her creativity and patience. Her quilts were not only works of art but also expressions of love and warmth that she shared with those around her, be it t-shirt quilts or Underground Railroad patterns imbued with personal history and meaning. In addition, quilting provided an important source of community. Her artistic voice was also often shared in a beautiful soprano. Susan was an avid walker, her morning routine a familiar sight to her neighbors. One of her favorite birthday challenges was summiting Mount Washington, the highest peak in the Northeast.

Susan had an infectious smile and spirit that perfect strangers were wondrously susceptible to. She had an ornery and affectionate sense of humor that inspired her to entertain her toddlers by moving the car to a vantage point to see Ken exit the grocery store in bewilderment, which became a family tradition. Susan also planned a surprise 40 years and 40 days birthday party for Ken that landed on their wedding anniversary, just to throw him off the scent.

Susan is survived by her children, Tolonda Henderson and Jason Henderson; her daughter-in-law, Leigh Ann Henderson; and her beloved granddaughters, Lillian and Acadia Henderson. Her family was a source of immense meaning, pride, and joy for her. Her life’s dream was to be a grandmother. Susan’s instinct at seeing her granddaughters was always to lift them up, both physically and spiritually, as high as she could.

In accordance with her wishes, Susan’s ashes will be privately committed at the Memorial Terrace of Rock Spring Congregational United Church of Christ in Arlington, VA. A memorial service and celebration of life will be held at Rock Spring at a later date.

Rev. Susan Annette Henderson will be remembered for the lives she touched through her ministry and teaching, the beauty she created through quilting, and the love she shared with her family and friends. May her memory bring comfort to all who knew her, her example a call to humble engagement, and her faith-filled determination, especially when things were hard, be a source of hope.