Dr. Perry Henderson, a retired obstetrician, philanthropist, community leader, and member of the 100 Black Men of Madison, recently passed away on July 10. For more than 60 years, he had been married to his wife, Dr. Virginia Henderson, a beloved and legendary educator and matriarch for many in the Madison community, who passed away 6 years ago. In 2020, Glendale Elementary School on Madison’s East Side was renamed in her honor.
Together, the Hendersons were one of Madison’s dynamic duos and, through their decades of generosity and volunteer work, have impacted multiple generations of families throughout Dane County.
Following Dr. Perry Henderson’s death, the 100 Black Men of Madison decided to rename one of their signature events, the Back to School Celebration, after the Hendersons, who were instrumental in starting the event.
“Oh, without a doubt, they were a team. They did so many things for so many people, and they were not looking for any kind of recognition,” Dr. Floyd Rose, the longtime president of the 100 Black Men of Madison, tells Madison365. “They were just looking for good outcomes, and they set the standard for all of us. It’s wonderful that the school was named after Dr. Virginia Henderson because she was just a terrific person, and Dr. Perry Henderson was the same way. They were just amazing, selfless people who did good things for all the right reasons.”
The 100 Black Men of Madison, Inc. will host the 30th annual Virginia and Perry Henderson Back to School Celebration this Saturday, Aug. 2, 8-11 a.m. at Truax Campus of Madison College on Madison’s East Side. All Dane County elementary, middle, and high school students of limited-income families and their parents are invited to participate in this event.
The annual event has evolved over the years, but has always centered around providing school supplies to thousands of local students while hooking the young people and their parents up with resources that they need to succeed.
The conversations that would lead to the creation of the 100 Black Men of Madison Back to School Celebration more than 30 years ago took place in the home of Perry and Virginia Henderson.
“This was very important to the Hendersons, and I remember them saying that ‘the children need tools and we just want to fortify the students so we can put them in positions to succeed,’” Rose remembers.
The 100 Black Men of Madison’s mission is to improve the quality of life within the community and to enhance educational and economic opportunities for all African Americans. Their vision is to serve as a beacon of leadership by utilizing their diverse talents to create environments where children are motivated to achieve, and to empower people to become self-sufficient shareholders in the economic and social fabric of the communities they serve.
(Photo by David Dahmer)
For many years, the 100 Black Men Back to School Celebration was held in Demetral Park on Madison’s East Side.
“We always enjoyed hosting it at Demetral Park, but Madison College is a top-flight facility with top-flight people and we were happy to make the transition to that facility,” Rose says, noting that having it indoors at Madison College helps in times of inclement weather. “We’re really looking forward to the 2025 event experience this Saturday.”
The 100 Black Men of Madison began its operation in 1994 and was incorporated in 1995 as a nonprofit organization comprised of members from many professional disciplines in the greater Madison area. Since the 100 Black Men of Madison started the Back to School Celebration, which used to be called “Backpacks for Success,” dozens of other organizations in the Madison area have followed suit over the years in hosting their own events that provide school supplies for kids for the coming school year.
“If anything, this is a kind of situation you want to have. If our event was a motivator for other groups to do this, too, then God bless them. Because school supply costs have skyrocketed over the years, especially recently. The inflation spiral that has happened over the last few years is unbelievable,” Rose says. “A lot of children’s parents don’t have the financial wherewithal to do all the things for their children that they might want, and if we can provide them with something that will allow them to use their money for something else that will benefit children, then that’s a good day for everybody.”
Rose says he’s thankful to the many volunteers and community partners who help make the celebration possible every year.
“So there are many nice people who support this event. And all they want to do is see the success of the children in our community. You can’t go wrong with that crowd,” he says. “It’s just refreshing and invigorating because there are so many people who just want the best for children.”
All students at the 30th annual Virginia and Perry Henderson Back to School Celebration on Saturday must be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians to receive a new backpack with school supplies until materials are exhausted. There will be a limit of one backpack per student.
“Oftentimes, when people reach a certain age, like Dr. Virginia and Dr. Pery Henderson did when they passed, sometimes their name will also pass. And no one thinks about this,” Rose says. “I think these are two special people where I truly hope, and I think a lot of people feel the same way, that we don’t ever want their names not to be remembered. They deserve to be memorialized for all that they did.”
A Celebration of Life for Dr. Perry Henderson will be held Thursday, Aug. 7, at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 2019 Fisher St. in Madison. Visitation starts at 10 a.m., followed by a service at 11 a.m.
