2026 SESSION
ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 43
Celebrating the life of Charles Whitley Henderson.
Agreed to by the Senate, February 12, 2026
WHEREAS, Charles Whitley Henderson, a respected entrepreneur in Abingdon who grew the Food Country USA grocery stores into a multistate chain and became a titan in professional stock car racing and led Henderson Motorsports for many years, died on June 14, 2025; and
WHEREAS, Charles “Charlie” Henderson grew up in the Hayter's Gap community of Meadowview and graduated from Meadowview High School, where he excelled in football and baseball, then continued his education at East Tennessee State University; and
WHEREAS, Charlie Henderson participated in the Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps program in college and was commissioned as an officer in the United States Army after graduation; he completed postings at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, Fort Bliss, Texas, and Incheon, South Korea, where he served as a military police officer; and
WHEREAS, after his honorable discharge, Charlie Henderson settled in Abingdon and opened the Minute-ette grocery store on Main Street; he ultimately grew the business into a successful regional chain, Food Country USA, with 10 locations in Virginia and Tennessee; and
WHEREAS, in 1982, Charlie Henderson founded Henderson Motorsports, a well-known stock car racing team that has competed in multiple National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) series races, including the NASCAR Cup Series, the NASCAR Xfinity Series, and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series; and
WHEREAS, Charlie Henderson was known for his unwavering dedication to his drivers, crews, and staff and earned the respect of teammates and competitors alike for his quiet determination and steady leadership; with more than 40 years in the sport, he became the second-longest tenured team owner in NASCAR; and