Janell Sue (Richardson) Hendry passed away Aug. 25, 2026. Janell was born on July 31, 1951, in Chickasha, OK, to Glenn Walter Richardson and Naomi Mae (Pitts) Richardson. After graduating from Verden High School in 1969, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Performance and Music Education from OCLA (now the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma in Chickasha) in 1973. She then completed a Master of Music in Church Music from Southwestern Seminary in Ft. Worth in 1975—the same year she married Sam Hendry. She went on to earn a second master’s degree in Vocal Pedagogy and Performance from Texas Women’s University in Denton, TX in 1980. For 35 years, Janell served as a dedicated music teacher, instructing students from pre-K through high school, leading choirs, and directing musical programs.
In 2012, fulfilling a calling placed on her heart as a high school student at Falls Creek in 1966, Janell planted Grace Church and established Grace House in 2013.
Janell is survived by her son, Scott Hendry of Shawnee; her daughter and son-in-law, Lauren and Kyle Craig of Shawnee; her cherished grandson, Carter Craig of Shawnee; and her former husband, Sam Hendry of Tecumseh; her sister and brother-in-law, Karen and Dean Cunningham of Verden; her niece and her husband, Lisa McElroy Wright and Dennis Wright of Norman; her nephews and their wives, Greg and Kelli McElroy of Oologah, Michael and Jessica Cunningham of Chickasha, and Daniel and Shelby Cunningham of Verden; great-nephews and nieces; and a large, loving network of cousins.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her older sister, Linda Joyce McElroy.
Services were held Aug. 31, 2026, at Temple Baptist Church in Shawnee. Dr. Scott Hendry and the Rev. Greg McElroy will be officiated under the direction of Riley-Walker Funeral Services and Crematory.
