By Maynard Eaton

“You couldn’t know Jake without loving Jake.” – Dr. Carole Henderson Tyson

The nation’s top lawman cleared his busy schedule on March 1, to travel to Atlanta to attend the funeral of Jacob Henderson, Jr., a pioneering military attorney during the 1960s who became an expert on international travel and a leading Atlanta businessman.

America’s first African-American Attorney General, Eric Holder, came to honor and bid a fond farewell to a close friend and colleague known as “Jake”, a hugely popular Atlanta icon and scion of the first fully-accredited, African-American owned travel agency in the U.S.

Photo by Susan J. Ross

Both the Attorney General and his wife, Dr. Sharon Malone-Holder, were long-time friends of Henderson’s. Holder’s day-long visit was a noteworthy acknowledgement of a charismatic and compelling character whose persona and infectious smile resonated around the world. Henderson, a pioneering expert on international travel throughout the African Diaspora, died February 23 at Emory University Hospital Midtown from liver cancer. The Columbia University Law School graduate was 66.

“The thing that is understated about Jake is that he was truly a very, very intelligent and smart guy,” opined Butch Foster, another history-making black Marine attorney who served with Henderson in Vietnam. “I was in the courtroom when he was representing Marines of color. He took it very seriously and was an outstanding advocate. He took on the toughest cases and was resolute about making sure that these Marines got a proper defense.”

After his Marine service, Henderson returned to work in the family business, Henderson Travel Service, Inc. He grew the business to include tourism in West Africa. He was also involved in international business ventures, with a deep commitment to building bridges between African Americans and people throughout the African Diaspora.

Jake Henderson was hilarious and gregarious—always at the ready with a quick quip or a riveting conversation—always the life of the party. With his humanity, sensitivity, compassion, unbridled humor and charisma, Jake’s personality combined a multi-disciplinary perspective on life, according to his obituary. He modeled his life on the values he learned from his parents. He was molded by his experiences as one of the first generation of African Americans to have gained broader educational and professional experiences following the Civil Rights Movement. He talked and walked with kings, presidents and everyday people, the obituary proudly proclaimed.

“Jake was a renaissance man; very knowledgeable about everything; could blend in with any crowd,” said businessman Raleigh Murphy. “The first time I met him I’d already heard about him; his reputation had preceded him.”

That’s why hundreds of well-wishers packed the Ebenezer Baptist Church Horizon Sanctuary to rejoice in his delicious and dynamic life—it had all the makings of a college homecoming reunion of old friends happy to see each other again.

“Jake was a person that had the ability to be able to cross all lines—racially, ethnically, and economically—and it showed,” said Tom Houk, a media personality and political strategist in Atlanta.

The funeral drew the likes of Congressman John Lewis, former Mayor and UN Ambassador Andrew Young, former Mayor Bill Campbell, former Macon Mayor C. Jack Ellis and former Mayor Shirley Franklin, who Henderson reportedly introduced to her late ex-husband, David Franklin, decades ago.

“Jake would be so happy to look down at all of us and see us celebrating his life,” said his sister, Dr. Carole Henderson Tyson. “It’s a real testimony to the essence of Jake. He was always reaching out; he was a master of connections and staying in touch with old friends. The other great thing about him is as he traveled the world he would always make new friends. I’ve gotten so many emails from people from Africa, from the Caribbean who met him only once but they were so touched by him. They said he had a personality bigger than life and he was like sunshine walking into the room because he had a wonderful, creative sense of humor. You couldn’t know Jake without loving Jake.”

This writer has known, respected and revered Henderson for more than 30 years: a great “brotha”; a proud Marine and distinguished Vietnam Veteran; an accomplished Columbia University graduate; a great son of Atlanta; a joy to be with; one of the very best of our generation. He influenced our heads and touched our hearts with his quintessential style, grace, grit and talents.

His rank in the Marine Corps was Captain. But I always thought of him as a Four Star General in life. Semper Fi, my friend.

Maynard Eaton is an 8-time EMMY Award winning TV newsman and political columnist who is also the moderator, executive editor and co-founder of NEWSMAKERS Live! and The NEWSMAKERS Journal in Atlanta.