Mr. Speaker, I rise today during Black History Month to celebrate the life and legacy of Gwendolyn Henderson – educator, business owner, Tampa City Councilwoman, daughter of West Tampa, and champion of Black history.

The daughter of the late Asbury Henderson, a Korean War veteran, and the late Gladys Austin Henderson, Gwen was born and raised in Tampa, Fla., growing up in the working-class neighborhood of Carver City. She attended Roland Park Elementary, Morgan Woods Elementary, West Tampa Junior High School, and Pierce Junior High School. She later earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University (FAMU), and a master’s degree in education as well as education specialist’s and higher education leadership degree from St. Leo University. She has also been a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority since 1994.

From Carver City to West Tampa, and then to Tampa Heights for 30 years, she was poised to serve as a well-grounded Member of Tampa City Council with a big heart for East Tampa neighbors especially. However, her true love and passion was education. Whether to her “favorite daughter” Ariel, or to the countless Hillsborough County students she was able to touch throughout her career as a teacher and mentor. Gwen started her educational career at Sligh Middle School but later transferred to Jefferson High School where she spent 25 years of her teaching career and embodied the Dragon Spirit – “Once a Dragon, Always a Dragon.”

Gwen put incredible effort into ensuring that her students had all the opportunities to grow available to them. She implemented efforts at Jefferson High School that helped showcase her students’ academic achievements and talents such as the Mr. and Miss Jefferson Scholarship Pageant, the Naturally Aware Proud and Strong (NAPS) Girl Empowerment Organization where she led by example and empowered young girls to become leaders in their communities, and the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Club, where she challenged students to consider other alternatives for higher learning and become more proud of their heritage and culture. Very shortly before passing, Gwen had launched a local, lively HBCU celebration to send-off Hillsborough County students on their way to Black colleges and universities.

After decades of being an educator, mentor, and inspiration to our young neighbors in Hillsborough County, Gwen was elected to the Tampa City Council in 2023 to represent District 5. In the City Council, Gwen continued to expand efforts she worked on as a community activist for decades.

Committed to restoring a Black-owned bookstore in the heart of Tampa, Gwen fulfilled a lifelong dream and founded the Black English Bookstore to curate reading options that represented the voice and culture of the Black community in Tampa and across all of America. Like a good book, Gwen brought comfort and community to neighbors across Tampa, while teaching us about ourselves, our culture, and our collective history. Her commitment to preserving and investing in Black-owned businesses was a pillar of her community advocacy. Her love for her hometown was evident in every action she took—from championing affordable housing and public safety to standing up for seniors and small businesses, and even supporting students and parents with free laptops when the COVID-19 pandemic forced remote learning. Gwen fought for the hopes and dreams of her community, including continuing the advocacy of rebuilding and expansion of the Fair Oaks Recreation Center in East Tampa.

Gwendolyn died too soon in 2025 – but her legacy lives on in all the hearts of the people she inspired throughout her life. Her life is a testimony of honoring Black history, Black culture, and Black lives. She is survived by her daughter Ariel Amirah Danley, her siblings, her nieces and nephews.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of my Tampa Bay Area neighbors, I commend Gwendolyn Henderson for a life dedicated to public service, the preservation of Black history, and a love for the City of Tampa and its community.