The skanner., August 22, 2012, Page 9, Image 9

Back to School 2012
Cherry Hendrix Celebrates Centennial Birthday
she has been a member for over 50 years, was also a guest
speaker. The former principal of Woodlawn Elementary
School, Mr. Lemil Speed, shared some funny stories of her
commitment to the student’s needs even when there was no
money for extras. She always got the money she requested.
She was affectionately known to the children in school and
church as Grandma Cherry.
Cherry received a birthday card from President and First
Lady Obama, many personal messages for her memory
book, gifts and cards from guests at the celebration. Many
adults who Cherry taught as children now have children and
grandchildren who come to her and told her how they
remember her and thank her for teaching them to read.
Cherry, an avid reader, found that she could travel,
explore exotic places, and do anything she wanted through
By Gail Johnson
C
Many adults who Cherry taught
as children now have children
and grandchildren who come
to her and told her how they
remember her and thank her
for teaching them to read.
port and other segregated housing districts.
On her second day of work Cherry caught the bus to go
home and every seat was taken except the seat next to a
young man from Louisiana. He had purposely held a seat
for her. Jerome Hendrix or Shorty as he was affectionately
called worked in the shipyard as a welder. They talked dur-
ing the bus ride home and he asked for her address so that
he could come and visit her. Cherry gave him the wrong
number but Shorty was determined and found her that same
night. They were married a few months later. Two girls
were added to the family, Elona and Doris.
The lives of Cherry, Shorty and everyone who lived in
Vanport were changed forever on May 29, 1948. The only
signal they had was a man with a bullhorn shouting, “The
dike has broken.” Joe, who was out throwing papers, heard
the warning and raced home. They threw a few clothes,
blankets, and Joe’s record player into a trunk and left. Cars
were lined up on Denver Street to get out when Joe told
Shorty to drive on the opposite side of the road and they just
made it out.
Shorty left his beloved Cherry in November 1968 and
Cherry became a single parent and went to work again.
Cherry worked at King Elementary School for 5 years and
at Jason Lee Elementary School for 6 years as a teacher’s
aid for reading. After her retirement at age 77, she volun-
teered through the Experience Corporation in 1990 as a
reading aide at Woodlawn Elementary School. She contin-
ued to work with the children until she was 97.
In 2004 Cherry was awarded the Neighborhood Excel-
lence Initiative Local Hero Award by Bank of America for
PHOTO BY REBA ALLMON PHOTOGRAPHY
herry Charity Hendrix celebrated her 100th birthday
with family, church members and friends at the June
Key Delta Community Center Sunday Aug. 19.
Cherry Hendrix was born in Hope Hull, Ala., on Aug. 17,
one hundred years ago. During World War 11 she accepted
an invitation from a cousin in Portland to relocate here. She
came all by herself, leaving her young son Joe with her
mother until she found work. She arrived on a Sunday and
found work in the Vanport Shipyard by Friday.
The establishment of Vanport coincided with an unprece-
dented influx of African Americans into Oregon. The state
had a population of fewer than 1,200 blacks in 1940, but by
1946 over 13,000 lived in the Portland area, mostly in Van-
‘When I read a book, it’s like
someone is talking to me’
Cherry Charity Hendrix
the Metropolitan Family Service Experience Corporation
program. Metropolitan Family Service established the
Cherry Hendrix Initiative Award in her honor.
In February 2007 Cherry made the front page of the Port-
land Tribune with an article about her extraordinary
volunteer work. She was honored by the Trailblazers at half
time for her volunteer service when she retired. In spite of
all the awards and accolades she remains humble and God-
centered.
Judy Strand, CEO, Metropolitan Family Service was a
speaker at the birthday celebration. Mrs. Strand told the
story of offering Cherry the
opportunity to meet Presi-
dent Bill Clinton on a
Sunday morning when he
was in town.
Cherry
thanked her very much but
said she was sorry she could
not attend because she had
to usher at church on that
Sunday. She did get another
opportunity to meet the
President and his daughter
when they visited the school.
The children and grand-
children told stories of
Cherry being a wonderful
mother and disciplinarian in
spite of being a single par-
ent.
Senior Pastor Haynes from
Allen Temple Church, where
books. This quote from Cherry best exemplifies her love of
reading: “When I read a book, it’s like someone is talking
to me.” Cherry didn’t just read, but she lived out the won-
derment of life she read about daily. She took what she
learned in those books, countless crosswords, and word
search puzzles and made them a reality, sharing her love of
books with countless children and their children.
After all the festivities concluded Cherry said, “I am so
overwhelmed with the love I have been shown today. When
I die there will be no need for a funeral. Many have received
showers of love and comments of adoration when they die,
but I have been blessed enough to be here to hear it.”
Congratulations on 100 years of service and life.
August 22, 2012 The Portland Skanner Page 9