WALTER JAMES HENDERSON III,

76, of Little Rock transitioned into eternity on February 16th.

Walter grew up in a house where music danced through the walls. When

Walter was in seventh grade, at Dunbar Jr.

High, he picked up a trumpet, taught under the instruction of band teacher, Sylvia Clay.

Walter married Sharon Talley. To their union, four children were born, Walter IV, Damond, Kia, and Micah. Over the times and travels of life, Walter fathered three more children, Carlos, Jawuan, and Breanna.

Walter served in the U.S .Army from 1969 to 1972, where he played in the 56st and the 60th Regiment Army Bands. He traveled back and forth to Little Rock over the years, also substituting in the Little Rock Public Schools. and eventually settled there in his later years of life.

Walter was a noteworthy jazz musician, known in Little Rock as a “jazz legend”. He played several instruments, his treasured trumpet, flugelhorn, flute, piano, and clarinet. He played many musical engagements and won accolades and awards, all over the world and in his hometowns of Little Rock and Chicago, Illinois. He performed with the bands Inner Drive, Circo Verde, The Funkanites, Velvet Kente, and Amasa Hines. He toured and accompanied various musical greats such as John Stubblefield, James Leary, Buddy Guy, Pharoah Sanders, Art Porter, Bill Boris, Tyrone Davis, Muhal

Richard Abrams, Bobby Irving, Yosef Ben Israel, James Perkins, Jack McDuff, The Four Tops, Little Anthony, Leslie Gore, and Lou Christie.

Walter will survived by his children Walter IV, Damond, Kia (Tywan), Micah, Carlos, Breanna, and Juwaun; his grandchildren, Kyla, Brendan, Isabela, Julian, Michael, Mari’hanna, Aria, Jordan, Corey, Nicholas, and Ladarrius; his sisters, Delca and Jocelyn; and brother, Charles; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives, and friends.

Funeral service will be 10 a.m. Friday March 1st, at Bullock Temple CME Church 1518 South Park Street in Little Rock. KELLY SMITH FUNERAL & CREMATION SERVICES will be serving the Henderson families. For more information, sign online guest register, send flowers/cards/ condolences/photos and light an “In Loving Memory Of” candle WWW.KELLYSMITHFUNERALS. COM