Charlotte Ann Sullivan Henry

Prayer Warrior • Community Advocate • Matriarch

Sunrise: December 10, 1944 – Sunset: April 19, 2025

Charlotte Ann Sullivan Henry, a radiant woman of unwavering faith, timeless beauty, bold style, and boundless love, transitioned peacefully on the morning of April 19, 2025. She was a mother to many, a sister to more, and a spiritual compass to all who crossed her path. Her presence—like her prayers—was powerful, deeply rooted, and always in bloom.

Born in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, and later planting roots in New Britain, Connecticut, Charlotte lived a life that was nothing short of a living sermon. She could calm a storm with a prayer whispered on a porch and heal a heart with her smile and signature maroon lipstick.

A tireless community advocate, Charlotte was never afraid to speak for the voiceless. From marching during the civil rights era to helping to create the Mount Pleasant Neighborhood Program, from her work at the YMCA and New Britain Department of Education to running for local office in New Brittan, Connecticut. She stood tall for justice and equity. Her prayer circles became lifelines, and her leadership a source of hope. Charlotte didn't just uplift people—she reminded them of their sacred worth.

But above all, Charlotte's greatest ministry was love.

She was never too busy to stop and pray with someone in need. Whether in the grocery store, on a church pew, or during a simple walk through her neighborhood, she made time to see people, hold their hands, and speak peace into their lives. Her spiritual gift was presence—intentional, openhearted, and healing.

She was the warm embrace on a hard day, the hot meal when someone needed comfort, the extra five minutes that made all the difference. Sweet in spirit yet fierce in conviction, she gave endlessly and asked for little in return.

Charlotte dressed each day like it was a celebration. Her Sunday best wasn't reserved for Sunday. She believed in wearing what made you feel beautiful, inside and out. Her vibrant fashion sense, rooted in elegance and color, mirrored her joy, grace, and reverence for life.

She is preceded in eternal rest by her mother, Bernice Durnell Sullivan and daughters, Tanya, Victoria, and Denise Henry; her brothers, Phillip Durnell and Elwood "Hawk" Durnell; sisters, Jacqueline Durnell Ferguson, and Cecilia Butts. She is lovingly remembered by her granddaughter, Tanyka Renee Henry, nieces, nephews, her extended family, and the countless souls who called her "Mrs. Henry," "Sister Charlotte," or simply, "Friend." Her legacy continues through them—in every whispered prayer, every cause carried forward, and every seed of kindness she sowed.

A celebration of her life will take place on Sunday, April 27, at 12:15 PM, at WellSpring Church, 222 Lincoln St, Kensington, CT 06037.

Guests are invited to wear something that makes them feel beautiful, bold, and loved, just as Charlotte would have wanted. This celebration will be a reflection of her light, not a farewell.

Though her voice no longer fills the room, her prayers still echo in the hearts of many. Her light—fierce, sweet, and unshakable—lives on in all of us.

Condolences may be shared through the guestbook link on this memorial page. All are welcome to light a candle in her memory.