Sonny Henry

Harley Darrell “Sonny” Henry, age 84, died peacefully at the home of his daughter and caretaker, Regina Henry Henderson, on Wednesday, March 2, 2022.

Born March 5, 1937, in Mullins, Texas, he was the son of the late Harrison Watson Henry and the late Selma Cornelius Henry Strickland. His younger sister, Carol Henry Pyfer, preceded him in death in 2017.

Sonny grew up in the oilfields of far-west Texas. At the age of 13, he started painting pump jacks for Gulf Oil in Penwell, TX.  After graduating from Crane High School, he attended Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas on an Air Force ROTC scholarship, majoring in petroleum engineering.  After graduation, he served in the US Air Force where he became a fighter pilot instructor at Webb AFB.  After 6 years of active duty, he joined Cosden Oil and Chemical, in Big Spring, TX, as an engineer and researcher. In the fall of 1967, he was transferred to High Point, NC.

Sonny was strong in his convictions and faith and attended, with his young family, Baptist Temple in Big Spring, TX. Later, after moving to High Point, he and his family became members at Oak View Baptist. He was a deacon and served many roles at Oak View Baptist, including teacher and Educational Director. As a young man in the mid-1960s, he pioneered a church affiliation between Baptist Temple and the black Baptist church in Big Spring, TX.  At Oak View Baptist, he was a member of the team that built the current church on the corner of Johnson St. and Oak View Rd. in High Point.

Along with other business partners, he started Styrex Industries and was CEO for nearly 30 years. They built custom injection molded parts for many different industries, including furniture, computer, and automotive.  He was recognized in 1983 as a Distinguished Engineer by his alma mater Texas Tech University. He also served as the president of Colonial Country Club in Thomasville. In later years, he built custom transit cases for the music and computer industries.

Sonny married June Thornton Swinney (1938 – 2005) as a young man and together they had 3 daughters:  Renee Henry Harvish (spouse James), Regina Henry Henderson (spouse Johnny), and Reniece Henry Westmoreland (spouse John). Surviving relatives include his daughters; older sister, Virginia Henry Hill of Ojai, CA; 6 grandchildren, Cheryl Marsh Hillis (spouse Jesse), Misti Marsh Sanders, Melynda Henderson Brewer (spouse David), Samuel Henderson, Victoria Westmoreland Bradley (spouse Damian), and Logan Westmoreland; and 12 great-grandchildren, ranging in age from 3 months to 23 years.

After June’s death, he married Bobbie Clarke (1934 – 2019) of Austin, TX, and had 2 stepchildren, Cindy Clarke Hill and Randall Clarke (spouse Julia), who have 3 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.

Due to his long illness, the family is relieved and joyful that he is now at peace.

Services will be announced at a later date

He will be interred at a later date with his first wife June in the Blanket Memorial Cemetery in Blanket, TX.

Wright Funerals-Cremations is in charge of arrangements.