Sandra Henderson divides her time between the things she loves the most: working for City Council president Jerry Holland and spending quality time at home with her family.
A PACKAGE DEAL
Henderson has worked with Holland for five years and counting. Initially, she was a warranty manager when he was working as a builder for SEDA. Then, she followed him to the Council at his request in 1999. “It was the opportunity of a lifetime. And ever since he became president, we’ve stayed pretty busy. Everyone wants 15 minutes of his time now, but I love working for him.”
SWEET CHEF
“My dream is to own my own bakery. When I have a stressful day at work, I come home to my kitchen and bake.” Any specialties? “I can make a chocolate cake from scratch and my son-in-law says I make the best oatmeal raisin cookies in the world. Around Christmas I make about 700 cookies. Planning a whole meal is no fun for me. I like the sweets.”
INFLUENCES
“My mother taught me the values that I carry with me today. My grandmother did, too. When I got married, she sat me down and told me that ‘when you throw water on a fire, the fire will go out. Marriage is like a fire and you have to rebuild it everyday.’ When I was in eighth grade, my teacher, Edwina Nelms, had a really big effect on me, too. I was painfully shy growing up and she was very tough and gruff; almost like the Navy. One day she just looked at me and said, ‘Are you going to be a mouse your whole life?’ Later, she pulled me aside and told me that my personality needed to come out. She pulled me out of my shell.’”
FAMILY COMES FIRST
“To me, family is like a well. Everyday you can come to them to get your water.” Henderson is married, has two grown children and one grandson. “My family is very valuable to me and they rejuvenate me. My belief in God is directly related to them.”
HER HOME TOWN
“I was born in Waycross.” Henderson spent several years in the small Georgia town before finally making the move to Jacksonville in 1984 to be near her sister. “I lived with her for a few months before I got my own apartment and started a life here.”
FOR THE FUTURE
“I’m planning on staying with Jerry for as long as I can. He’s given me a lot of confidence and I like achieving the goals that he sets.”
— by J. Brooks Terry