Marion Gibson speaks at the HSC Historical Society
Marion Gibson, board president of the Henson- Benson Foundation, was the guest speaker for the Hot Spring County Historical Society when it met Monday, May 2nd.
The Foundation was founded in 2010 by Perla native and forensic psychiatrist, Dr. Samuel Benson. Dr. Benson, son of Frances Henson Calhoun, renovated the Henson Grocery and Market and renamed it “Francis Hall” in honor of his mother. Mrs. Francis Henson Calhoun was the granddaughter of former enslaved, business and land owner, Taylor Henson. It is the home of the Henson- Benson Foundation.
Mrs. Gibson explained the foundation’s mission “to promote oppor
tunities, aspirations, and achievements in educational endeavors for deserving learners.” Objectives of the foundation are to “produce and disseminate educational materials about the social and economic histo
ry of the Malvern region.”
The Henson- Benson Foundation is involved with charitable donations, awarding scholarships, documenting Malvern’s African- American history through documentaries ( Unearthing the Dream) and books ( Proud Legacy).
Dr. Benson’s wish was to support the community spirit that is the legacy of the Arkansas communities of Malvern and Perla and to communicate the stories of Taylor Henson and his descendants and to celebrate the success of other influential Americans who emerged during this unique era.
Dr. Samuel Benson passed away in 2015. He graduated from Malvern Colored High School in 1952. His maternal great- grandfather, Taylor Henson, was the largest landowner in HSC at the time of his death. There are eight Board of Directors who continue to carry out Dr. Benson’s wishes.
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