Foresight, direction, and leadership are three trademarks many who know Mr. Henry Camp Malone (November 21, 1925 – July 28, 2023) will attest were qualities that characterized him throughout his life.
The son of the late John Thomas and Anna Lee Camp Malone, Mr. Henry, who attended Guthrie schools from first grade until his high school graduation, held a bachelor’s degree from Austin Peay State College and a master’s degree from George Peabody College. Years of military service included his being with the Naval Amphibious Forces from 1944 until 1946. During that time, Mr. Henry served in the Pacific theatre during World War II.
A science teacher in his early years as an educator, Mr. Henry became the principal at Guthrie High School from 1951 until 1958 and then donned the hat of superintendent of the Todd County School District from 1958 until 1965. He also served several years in leadership positions with teachers’ associations. From 1965 until his retirement in 1987, Mr. Henry also donned hats as Assistant Director of Field Services and as Coordinator of Public Service in the College of Education at Austin Peay.
Following his retirement from APSU, Mr. Henry served as vice-chairman of the Todd County Housing Authority for 15 years. He also was a member of the Todd County Board of Education for several years as well as a longtime member and deacon at Guthrie Baptist Church. As his obituary shares, his “life was one of service to his God, his family, his country, and his community.” In January of 2020,
Mr. Henry was inducted into the Todd County Schools’ Hall of Fame, an honor to one whose life was focused on education both at the local level and at the collegiate level. Mr. Henry’s biography is included in “Who’s Who in College and University Administration,” in “Who’s Who in American Education,” and in “Who’s Who in the South and Southwest.” He was also affiliated with both the Rotary and the Lions’ Clubs.
The daughter of Howard and Mattie Maude Bland, Mrs. Jean Bland Malone’s life began September 24, 1929, and ended on July 31, 2023, three days after her beloved husband passed away. A lifetime resident of Guthrie who was married to Mr. Henry for 71 years, Ms. Jean also devoted many years of her life serving others. Those years included years working at the Guthrie Post Office, a position she held for many years with 15 of those years as Postmaster, retiring from that position in 1996.
Those who knew Ms. Jean will share her gentle spirit was always one bringing smiles to those around her. She was also one who believed in expressing thanks, and when some thoughtful deed was completed for her and Mr. Henry, Ms. Jean was on a mission to send a ‘thank you’ note acknowledging that kindness. She also was a very caring neighbor who was always eager to be of assistance when someone in her neighborhood or church needed a helping hand. Obviously, being the mother of two children and one grandson also demanded the special touches of a loving mother and grandparent. Her role as an aunt also reflected her love of others a part of her family.
Those familiar with the history of the Todd County School District and Todd County Central High School will recall Mr. Henry was superintendent of Todd County Schools in 1959 when a tract of land covering about 40 acres was purchased to begin plans for a new high school. That school, one designed by architect Tom Mimms Paine, would allow high school students throughout Todd County to attend a new facility, one encompassing at its onset about 67,000 square feet. In 1959 in his remarks to the Elkton Rotary Club prior to its construction, Mr. Henry explained the new structure would be open for its first student body including freshmen through seniors in September of 1963.
He also added the facility would contain 30 classrooms, a cafeteria and kitchen, a library, a teacher’s workroom, two offices, a gymnasium, and facilities for both music and industrial arts. Of note as well was the fact the new school would be an integrated one.
Taylor Dorris, former resident of Guthrie, shared Mr. Henry and Ms. Jean lived full and accomplished lives and will be missed by everyone who knew them. He stated so eloquently the imprints they made, “Jean and Henry were a fixture in my childhood. I’d see both of them every Sunday, and they always greeted me with generous and genuine smiles.” He also penned, “Jean’s cooking was legendary, and every Christmas morning, she managed to provide a plate of freshly baked biscuits for our family.”
Taylor also explained a few years ago Mr. Henry captured his teenage daughters’ attention providing stories from his involvement in the war effort during World War II. Noting the Malones were pillars of the community, Cheryl Higdon Elliott, another who knew Mr. Henry and Ms. Jean, penned, “Your mother was probably the sweetest and most gracious person I have ever known. She is probably responsible for the Christian I am today.”
Yes, the loss of loved ones is a heart wrenching event we all must experience. Many of those who knew Mr. Henry and Ms. Jean, however, smile as they reflect upon two individuals who impacted the lives of so many people during their ninety-plus years of life. Terry and Debra Bracey penned online in recent days, “Mr. Henry Malone was one of the most kind and generous men I have ever known. He embodied true Christian charity his entire life by ‘walking the walk’ more than just ‘talking the talk.’”
They also added, “Together he and his wife supported their church, many children’s organizations such as World Hunger, Boy’s Town, and St. Jude as well as many other charitable and civic organizations. They both had true servants’ hearts to help their church, their family, and all the people they interacted with on a daily basis. They will truly be missed.”
~ Article by Carolyn L. Wells
August 6, 2023
