- May 18, 2024
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Pastor Daisy Henry, a former Bunnell city commissioner and a longtime community advocate, died on May 3.
“She was just like the matriarch in this area,” said G.W. Carver Foundation President Taahira Lee. “She was a voice overall for the community, highly respected. She always advocated for what was right and for change for the better of the community.”
Henry, 77, was born and raised in Bunnell and attended the segregated George Washington Carver School. She was the founder of Sprit to Truth Outreach Ministries and one of the founders of the Alliance Of Involved Ministers. Through AIM, she ran a summer camp at the G.W. Carver Community Center.
“She takes the kids on field trips, they go to museums, and they do recreational and educational stuff at the Carver Center,” Lee said.
Henry served on the Bunnell City Commission for 14 years.
“She was a very busy lady,” said Bunnell Mayor Catherine Robinson, who served on the commission with Henry. “She was a warrior for people and for causes.”
Robinson said Henry was missed at Bunnell’s annual National Day of Prayer celebration on Thursday, May 2.
“She was sick in the hospital, then she came out. It was so sad hearing the news today,” Robinson said on Saturday, May 4.
Jearlyn Dennie of Jearlyn Ministries and Reverse Church said Henry was one of the first people she met when she moved to Flagler County 15 years ago.
“She was just a force to be reckoned with,” Dennie said. “She advocated for families and students all her life. She started a prison ministry at the county jail.”
Afer she lost re-election to the commission by a handful of votes in 2013, Henry continued attending meetings and speaking during public comment and frequently opening the meetings in prayer, Robinson said.
“She was always active. She was always in attendance at city commission meetings,” Bunnell City Manager Alvin Jackson said. “If there were issues, she would bring them up, many things that we were not aware of. She had a great love for Bunnell. She wanted to see South Bunnell be a productive part of the community.”
Jackson has been Bunnell’s city manager for less than six years. He and Dennie said Henry welcomed them with open arms when they each moved to the community.
“When I first started ministering, I felt like I was met with a little pushback from the community,” Dennie said. “Pastor Daisy said just keep showing up. When they keep seeing your face and seeing you’re serious, they’ll accept you.”
Jackson said Henry helped him get acclimated to his new position and new community.
“She was full of knowledge and was able to help me understand the history of the community and some of the challenges I’d be facing,” he said.
Henry was recently named as one of 50 women in the state to be honored for their Christian leadership by She Leads Florida, Dennie said.
“She was a historic person in the county, a real positive force,” County Commissioner David Sullivan said.
“She has touched my life, influenced me, and she was so humble,” Dennie said. “If there’s a board in heaven she’s on it, advocating, trying to get somebody to do something to help somebody.”
