Marcia Lea Henderson Benett was born in Pauls Valley to Evelyn Naom (Orr) Henderson and Morris Stephens Henderson on January 28, 1956, and passed from this life August 11, 2025, at her home in Norman, Oklahoma, at the age of 79 after a short illness.
Marcia grew up in Elmore City, attending and graduating from Elmore City High School in 1964 as the first female class president in school history.
Marcia enrolled in Oklahoma State University for a short period of time after high school graduation, later moving to Norman and working at the state wildlife commission. Marcia met and married Ken Richard in 1967, and they made their home in Goldsby, where her only child, daughter Kimberly Nicole Richard, was born in 1970.
Marcia would later move to Alva, Oklahoma, and then Lamar, Colorado, before returning to Norman to enroll at the University of Oklahoma to fulfill a lifelong dream of earning a college education. At the age of 40, Marcia set out on her college path which would later result in graduating with distinction in 1992 from the University of Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Arts in Human Relations. Marcia was a member of the Golden Key National Honor Society for outstanding scholastic achievement during her undergraduate years at OU. Always a lifetime learner, Marcia began master’s studies immediately after earning her BA and would later receive her Master’s Degree in Counseling and Human Relations with honors.
During this time Marcia worked diligently to help battered and abused women in and around Norman while also earning recognition from medical personnel for her work in the field of bipolar disorder. Marcia helped and cared for many women having little or no voice, worked as an advocate for equality of women’s rights, led women’s groups seeking equality in the work place, and felt women needed to “break the glass,” seeking a louder voice and more empowerment in local, state and federal politics. Marcia was widely acclaimed by the people she cared for through her counseling efforts, later becoming part owner in Creating Options Counseling Agency in Norman before health issues caused her retirement during Covid.
Marcia loved and enjoyed her family and pets, especially her little Maltese named Presley. She loved raising flowers, especially roses, enjoyed gardening while loving the taste of fresh vegetables over hot house produce. Marcia loved her university and was a proud graduate of the University of Oklahoma.
Marcia was preceded in death by her parents, Morris and Evelyn Henderson; one brother, Reginald Paul Henderson; and nephew, Elliot Scott Henderson. Marcia is survived by her daughter, Kimberly Nicole Richard, of the home; one brother, Steve Henderson, of Elmore City; nephews, Shawn Henderson of Elmore City, and Jayson Corro of Oklahoma City; nieces, Sheila Henderson Kimbro of Wynnewood, Tiffany Henderson Knight of Owasso, Rae Henderson Greathouse of Amarillo, Texas, and Whitney Henderson Morgan of Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Funeral services are scheduled for Wednesday, August 27, at 11 a.m. in the Elmore City Cemetery under the direction of Wooster Funeral home with Joe Terrell officiating. You may offer your special memories and condolences to the family at woosterfuneralhomes.com.
