History
A Dream Becomes A Reality
The family moved to Detroit Michigan in the late 1950s. Charlie and Minnie continued their endeavors in searching for a better life. As this couple continued to work and continued to always make a way out of no way, they still had the heartfelt need to provide for others.
They found themselves moving again and established their roots in Highland Park, Michigan. Charlie’s work ethics caught the eye of a prominent attorney in Highland Park, Charlie had told this attorney about his and Minnie’s aspirations for a better life.
This attorney formed a personal life long relationship which would lead to a business relationship. With assistance from the attorney, Charlie and Minnie formed Hendrix Patrol, Incorporated. Established in the 1960s, the company garnished contracts with hospitals (Highland Park General Hospital, Detroit Osteopathic Hospital), local businesses in Highland Park, Detroit, Ecorse, Inkster.
When the Detroit Riots (1967) occurred Hendrix Patrol was called by the Detroit Police to assist in patrolling the areas. At the time of the riots, Hendrix Patrol had a contract with the Algiers Motel located in Detroit, which leads to a book written by John Hersey ( Algiers Motel Incident) where you can read further in how Charlie assisted in this case.
In the 1970s a second company was formed Hendrix Security, Incorporated in Nashville Tennessee, which also garnished contracts at local hospitals (Meharry Hospital) local businesses throughout Nashville. Charlie and Minnie worked closely together, which lead to a partnership with his brother, Gardful Hendrix who resided in Indianapolis, Indiana to purchase Hendrix Shell Gas Station, Charlie and Minnie did not hesitate, they stated when you have been blessed it is your duty to bless others.
Even after their death’s people will come up and state, “Mr. and Mrs. Hendrix was good people that I will never forget what they did for me”. With statements like this, you know that the philanthropic endeavors of giving to causes and others were not in vain.
It is stated that “The fool lives to consume all they can take from the world. But the wise create a better world. Wisdom is revealed by what a person fights for. If you fight for yourself, you have given yourself, to too small a thing. Charlie and Minnie fought against injustice, against poverty, against despair, against depression”. They instilled these values in their children if you have been blessed it is your duty to bless others.
Charlie and Minnie fought for a better life not only for them, their children but for others. These two amazing individuals left a legacy that will never be forgotten.
Charlie E. Hendrix
Our Non-Profit is a collective of amazing people striving to build better awareness and a better community.
Charlie a former slave, his father a plantation overseer and minister, his mother a Native American Indian. To hear the stories that have been passed down from generations and being afforded the opportunity to see the plantation and meet the ex-masters grandchildren first hand was historic.
But to see the look on my father’s face to take me back to a place of pain and hope for a better life meant so much more. Charlie left Pine Bluff, Arkansas at a young age in quest of a better life. He found himself in Nashville, Tennessee, where he would meet and marry a young woman who had caught his eye, Minnie Redmond.
Minnie Redmond Hendrix
Minnie Redmond was the daughter of a day worker (maid), her father a white man, who would never claim her. Minnie was raised by her grandparents Mack and Josephine who were farmers. God blessed Minnie with an “Angelic Voice”, she was sought after by many major gospel recording artists.
Charlie first seen Minnie singing at Saint James Church in Nashville, Tennessee, he knew that he would marry her. Their lifelong union produced five children, Charles, Bobbie, Delores, Wanda, and Susan.
Life was not easy for this family, segregation, racism was ‘Real”. Hope for a better life was a “Dream” this Black family living in the south refused to give up on.
No, it was not easy, but this did not stop these two amazing people from providing for their family, and others who were in need.
Yes, they fed families, took them in and shared whatever they had, to make sure that the next one was ok. Are we not our brothers/sisters keeper?
No matter what these two individuals went through they remained prayerful and determined to make a better life for themselves and their children and they did, they did it in a way that keeps paying dividends thru-out society!