Tuesday, December 27, 201111:30 a.m.Perry J. Brown Funeral HomeCassie Coote-Brown Memorial Chapel909 East Market Street Greensboro, North Carolina Pastor C. Paul Willis, Officiating~Reflections~Melvin Henderson, Sr. was born December 25, 1929 to Javan Henderson and Hazel Hardy in Oconica, South Carolina. He departed this life peacefully on Thursday, December 22, 2011 at Moses Cone Memorial Hospital.Melvin graduated from James B. Dudley High School Class of 1949. He attended North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (1967-1969) majored in sociology/minor in psychology. He furthered his education in a management training program with Primerica University in Atlanta, Georgia (1983-1984).He was a devoted member of Cathedral of His Glory for over twenty-two (22) years. He faithfully served as an elder, deacon and member of the finance committee. He served two (2) years in the Korean War and received the Purple Heart, and Honorary Discharged in 1952.Melvinâ??s professional experiences included serving as one of the First Afro-American Policemen, patrol division as uniformed officer in community relations, and official tactics unit and promoted to detective in the youth unit (1963-1983).Melvinâ??s accomplishments and honors were many with the various departments of the police division (1952-1974). In 1975, he was a licensed real estate broker and was self-employed with Primerica financial services of Deluth, Georgia.The passion of Melvinâ??s heart was becoming a charter member of James B. Dudley High School Educational and Sports Hall of Fame/Hall of Distinction in 2001. He served as the first treasurer and was an executive board member. He was a kind and gentle person and possessed a â??REALâ?? sense of humor.Melvin is survived by his devoted wife Clara B. Henderson of fifty-eight (58) years; daughters, Cynthia K. Henderson of Greensboro, NC and Brenda Vailes of Paterson, NJ; brothers- Jvan Henderson and Clarence (Robin) Henderson of High Point, NC; brother-in-law, Joe (Odessa) Patrick of Greensboro, NC; grandchildren; great grandchildren; a host of other nieces, nephews, family and friends.