Billie Allen Henderson (1925-2015): Memories of a Magnanimous Woman

Speechless at Her Beauty

You told me you wanted me to meet a girl you had in mind for Sarah (in Funnyhouse of a Negro). You took us both to the Russian Tea Room. Billie arrived in a mink coat, drop-dead gorgeous. You asked her could she audition or just meet and read and she said it would have to be after Thanksgiving because she had so much to do; she was having a dinner for thirty people for Thanksgiving.

I was speechless at her beauty and her lifestyle.

She and Luther were the most dazzling couple I have ever seen and how they enjoyed life!

Adrienne Kennedy to Michael Kahn on learning of Billie Allen Henderson's passing

She Became My Mommasita

Billie could have lived to be 190, and even so, I would not have believed I would see this day! I did not know Billie when she joined the cast of As the World Turns to play my mother, Louise Griffin. This was 1987, and with Arthur French as my father, Michael Genet as my brother, and Iona Morris as my sister, we immediately fell into an easy and comfortable TV family. But from the moment Billie and I met, it was "on" and she became my "Mommasita" beyond the walls of the studio. The convenience of her and Luther's 57th Street apartment made visits incredibly easy and spontaneous. [It] went something like this:

Me: "Mommasita, what you doing?"

Billie: "Hey Baby, where are you?"

Me: "In the neighborhood."

Billie: "Well come on by!" Click!

She never said "good-bye." (I think Billie had an aversion to "good-bye.") The most, it would be was:

Billie: "Love." Click!

That would lead to a quick lunch of salmon, greens and a baked sweet potato, or if it was cocktail hour, sherry, port, or my first Campari with grapefruit juice, on a hot summer day. She and Luther became an integral part of my life, and Mommasita became my best friend, my mentor, my advisor, my coach, my shoulder to lean on, my biggest champion!... (continued)