Hayden Eliott Henderson's Obituary
With deep sorrow, we share the unexpected passing of our beloved son, brother, nephew, uncle, cousin, grandson, great grandson, and friend, Hayden Eliott Henderson, on November 12, 2025. Although his life was cut tragically short at just 20 years old, Hayden’s impact will forever be felt by all who knew and loved him.
He was kind, smart, funny, fiercely loyal, a little silly, and very loved. His bright smile and his goofy — sometimes mischievous — grin meant everything to those who loved him. As the oldest child, grandchild, and great-grandchild, he shared an especially close and loving bond with his Mom.
Hayden was deeply committed to helping others, and that commitment extended beyond his life through his generous gift of organ donation.
Hayden was born in Fairfax, Virginia, on March 23, 2005, and grew up in Blacksburg, Virginia. It was there, in the Appalachian Mountains, that he developed his love for the outdoors. With his Dad and his Papa Bob (and his four-legged Beagle sidekick, Theo), Hayden found joy in hunting and fishing, riding four-wheelers, wading in the creek, playing in the snow, and hiking through the mountains. He was active in Scouting and achieved the Arrow of Light, the highest rank in Cub Scouts. As a child, he played many sports, including t-ball, baseball, soccer, and lacrosse, but football (coached by dad) was by far his favorite.
His family moved to Lakeland in 2017, where Hayden continued to explore new fishing spots and further develop his marksmanship and archery skills. As a teenager, he grew passionate about working on cars and operating heavy equipment. Hayden particularly loved old trucks. He attended McKeel Academy of Technology, where he was a member of the fishing, clay shooting, and weightlifting teams, and he graduated from Traviss Technical College, where he studied welding.
Hayden found opportunities to fish everywhere he went, including on every family trip — in his favorite spots across Florida, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Hawaii, Mexico, Canada, and Alaska. He loved all kinds of music and enjoyed the simplicity of time spent sitting around a fire. He adored spending time with his son, Logan Eliott Henderson, and he fought for him all the days of his life.
A self-proclaimed country boy, Hayden loved God, family, and country, and was most comfortable wearing blue jeans and boots.
Hayden is survived by his devoted parents, Mark and Laura Henderson; his siblings, Colton (Lindsay) Henderson, and their children, Eleanor and Joel Henderson; Addison Henderson; and Grayson Henderson; his son, Logan Eliott Henderson; his maternal grandparents, Gary and Sonyia Neff; his maternal uncle, Gary (Erica) Neff, Jr., and their children, Arabella and Adeline Neff; his maternal great grandparents Bob and Jane Follett, as well as numerous extended family members and friends. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather and best friend, Robert W. Henderson.
Hayden’s life and legacy will be cherished and remembered by all who knew him — and by those who never met him, but who are able to enjoy a future with their loved ones because of his generosity.
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
Revelation 21:4
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