Henry Butler

Henry Butler lived a long 83 years on this earth. On July 10, 2025 in Atlanta, GA - the city he absolutely loved, he decided it was time to go be with God and go home to his son, Nicholas. Henry was born in Sparta, GA on April 30th, 1942 to Francinia Lewis and one-arm Willie Butler. At 5 years old, he and his 6 brothers moved to Detroit, where Violet & Nicholas Lane took them in and raised them as their own. Violet was a teacher and Nicholas was a medicine man from off the coast of Georgia. Henry and his brothers ripped and ran the streets of Detroit from the stories we've all been told. If you knew any of them, they were probably kicking ass and taking names! After graduating from Wayne County Training School, Highland Junior Park, over the years, Henry had many different jobs. Some that he was most proud of was when he worked at the Ford Motor Company and when he was the banquet manager for several hotels throughout Atlanta. There was a time that you could fly into Atlanta Hartsfield airport and see his photo welcoming travelers to the local hotels. He also worked at the Atlanta Journal Constitution off and on for 25 years and was a taxi driver throughout different times of his life from Detroit to Atlanta. At The Sheraton Century Center, he met Susan, who would later be known to him as 'Mary', his future wife. When they met, Sue already had two children of her own and Henry already had three children of his own. Together, they had two more children and in the years to come, they raised them as one family, ensuring the children always knew each other. Later in life, he was able to reconnect with his oldest son and it was like they never skipped a beat. With Sue, they were able to build a beautiful life together despite it having its rocky moments. But together, they leaned on one another through the loss of Nicholas in 1995 and many health scares. Henry credited Sue as the reason why he lived as long as he did. She truly was his nurse and doctor. They really did take care of each other the best way they could. He always told her no one could or would understand the love they had for one another. They were truly each other's soulmates. He is remembered by his ex-wives, Estelle Cole, Ellenoria Kelsie and Diane Wingo, his eight children - Ellenoria Allen, Jr., Theron Pollock (Johari), Dainhen Butler, Gregorio Onate (Chae), Gamilfran Butler, Beverly Knox (Glenn), Mirivenia Butler (Anina) and Nicholas Butler, who preceded him in death. He was also survived by a gang of grandchildren - Xavier Payne, Takiya Butler, Maya Pollock, Michelle Pollock, Chloe Pollock, Taylor Pollock, Dai'Yana Whitt (Kendrick), Sommer Butler, Lindsay Nembhard, Dominick Onate, Alina Onate, Devin Onate, Grae Onate, A'daija Jackson, Jabria Parker, Taylor Lemons-Brice (Jaylen), Di'Zarria Lemons, Nikalos Jackson, A'zaiah Jackson, Glenn Knox, Jr. (Daphne), Calvin Knox (Imani), Joshua Knox, who preceded him in death, Jeremiah Knox and Maria Knox. He also had several great grandchildren - Zion McNeal, Roderick Henry Butler, Royal Peters, Salem Whitt, Liliana Nembhard, Dallas Cox, Gianna Knox, Genesis Knox, Justis Knox and Jahlani Knox. Louvenia Watkins, Mirian Brown, Hayward Butler and Bernard Brown, all preceded him in death. Henry will also be remembered and survived by his brothers James Brown, Emory Brown (Carolyn) and Wilford Butler. Butler is remembered by his unfiltered and dark sense of humor and his love of Atlanta sports, especially the Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta Hawks. Butler would also say, real fans don't go to the game, they watch them at home. He never met a scratch-off that he didn't like. And he managed to pass down to his children and grandchildren the art of cussin'. He definitely had a PhD in it! In his later years, the things that were important to him were spending time with his family and being together on holidays. And making sure his children got right with each other. He is a man of many talents and will be greatly missed by so many. "We can all sing together, but we can't all talk together. And ain't nobody talking while I'm talking, so shut tf up!" - Henry Butler "If you can't dazzle them with facts, bash them with bullshit!" - Henry Butler "Up & MF at 'em! - Henry Butler "Nothing comes to sleepers, but dreams." - Henry Butler "Cold as the other side of the pillow!" - Henry Butler

Tributes

Henry Butler

April 30, 2025 - July 10, 2025