Douglas Gerald Dorminy “Doug” Henderson Jr., 79, of Valdosta, Georgia, and Pensacola, Florida, passed away on October 5, 2026, at South Georgia Medical Center in Valdosta. Doug was born on September 3, 1947, in Fitzgerald, Georgia, to the late Douglas Gerald Dorminy Henderson Sr. and Vivian Woodham Henderson.

For Doug, family was everything. He was a devoted husband to Beverly Kelly Henderson, with whom he shared 54 years of marriage. More than anything else in his life, Doug was proud of the family they built together.

Doug spent 30 years with Independent Life Insurance. He began his career as an insurance agent in Pensacola and later Jacksonville, eventually becoming an agency manager. This job would bring Doug and his family to Valdosta in 1991, where they would build a life, raise their boys, and become part of the community. Throughout his career, Doug was recognized numerous times for his accomplishments and success, both as an agent and as a manager. He took pride in his work, the relationships he built, and the people he had the opportunity to work with and serve during his career.

When his boys were growing up, Doug rarely missed an opportunity to support them. He loved watching them play sports, but for Doug, being there meant more than sitting in the stands. He wanted to be involved. Over the years, he was a faithful member of touchdown clubs and booster clubs and was always willing to lend a hand wherever one was needed. Whether he was grilling sausage dogs for the Wildcats on a Tuesday or attending coaches’ lunches at Valwood to support his boys, Doug found a way to be part of what mattered to them.

As his sons grew older and became coaches themselves, Doug’s support never changed. He went from watching his boys play to watching his boys coach, showing up for practices and games and taking tremendous pride in what they were doing.

That same devotion carried over to his grandchildren. Doug loved watching Charlie, Jack, Will, Jayce, and JJ compete in sports, and for three of his grandchildren, he proudly served as “Grandpa Daycare”, spending countless days caring for them and becoming an important part of their everyday lives. If one of his grandchildren needed to get to a practice, a game, or anywhere else they needed to be, Doug would stop whatever he was doing to make sure they got there. And on the occasions when he couldn’t be in the stands himself, he made sure to call afterward to hear all about the game. Win or lose, he wanted to know how they did and be part of the moment. Showing up for his family was not something Doug had to think about- it was simply who he was.

Doug loved life. He loved his family, he loved his friends, and he loved to laugh and make others laugh. In his later years, he especially enjoyed going out to eat and spending time with his lunch buddies. He was also a longtime Atlanta Braves fan, although anyone who watched a game with Doug knew his relationship with the Braves could best be described as love-hate. Above all, Doug was a family man. His family was not simply an important part of his life—it was the center of his life. Some of his happiest moments were spent sitting in the stands, standing along a fence, helping behind the scenes, laughing with friends, caring for his grandchildren, or simply being wherever the people he loved happened to be.

Doug is survived by his wife, Beverly Henderson, of Valdosta; his sons, Ashley Henderson and his wife, Megan of Commerce, and Justin Henderson and his wife, Jennifer, of Valdosta; and his beloved grandchildren, Charlie, Jack, Will, all of Commerce and Jayce & JJ, both of Valdosta; his nephew, Woody Spearman; his great-niece, Megan Moore and her husband, Michael; his cousin, Jack Mayes and his spouse, John Meyers; and a special family member, Danterious “Coach D” Brown. He is also survived by his brothers-in-law, Paul Kelly and his wife, Laura; Pat Kelly and his wife, Grace; Mike Kelly and his wife, Kathi; and Tim Kelly and his wife, Val; and sisters-in-law, Janie Way and her husband, Chris; Jeanie Ponder and her husband, Mike; and Sherry Peacock, along with many other family members and friends who loved him dearly.

Doug was preceded in death by his parents; his beloved son, Douglas Gerald Dorminy Henderson III; and his sisters, Kay Spearman and Mary Jane McGonagal.

Doug Henderson leaves behind a life defined not by titles or accomplishments, but by the people he loved and the way he loved them. His family will miss his humor, his laughter, his presence at practices and games, and the comfort of knowing that whenever they needed him, he would be there.

He loved his family. He loved his friends. He loved to laugh. And he was always there.

A Memorial Mass celebrating Doug’s life will be held at 11 am on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, where he was a longtime member and where he faithfully loved and served the Lord. Father Adam Kasela will officiate the Mass. A burial of the urn will follow at McLane Riverview Memorial Gardens. A Rosary will be held at 5:30 pm at Carson McLane Funeral Home on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, and the family will receive friends following the Rosary from 6 until 8 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church Building Fund, 800 Gornto Road, Valdosta, GA 31602, or to the Doug Henderson III Memorial Foundation, Guardian Bank, 701 Wildwood Plantation Drive, Valdosta, GA 31602. Condolences may be conveyed to the family on the obituary page of www.mclanecares.com. Carson McLane Funeral Home