Those who know Charles Henderson say he is the kind of fellow who would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it, but he really wouldn’t want you to do anything for him in return.

Battling multiple sclerosis, Henderson recently was forced to retire from his job as a lieutenant in investigations with the Union Public Safety Department. Even though the former Union High football standout has a young family and other obligations, friends had to convince Henderson to let them host a salute and benefit for them. It will be held on May 30 at the Union National Guard Armory.

“We had to talk him into letting us help him,” said Officer Cornell Mauney, a friend and co-worker at the Union Public Safety Department. “I don’t have a son, but if I did, I would want him to be just like Charles Henderson. Very seldom do you find anybody that nobody says anything negative about. When Charles’ name comes up, everything is positive.”

Henderson’s friend and Class of 1991 classmate, Dean Gregory, is working with Mauney to organize the event. Another classmate, National Guardsman Randall Wright, helped them secure the armory for the event.

Gregory said there are a few people who might not have kind words about Henderson — football players on opposing high school teams who encountered lineman Henderson on the 1990 State Championship team.

“Those boys from Gaffney, Dorman, Chester — those Region II 4-A boys don’t like him,” said Gregory with a laugh. (Gregory is better known in Union as “D.J. Big” and is organizing music for the benefit.)

Henderson said he is humbled by what his friends want to do.

“I’ve been knowing Dean and we’ve been good friends since we were in the eighth or ninth grade,” Henderson said. “He was probably one of the first people I told that I wanted to be in law enforcement. And I met Cornell when I started working with the city and I was very impressed with him.”

Henderson then says, tongue in cheek, “If I make it to be his age, I’m probably going to be whole lot like him.”

Jokes aside, Gregory and Mauney said they hope a big crowd will turn out for the salute and benefit, with all proceeds going to the Charles A. Henderson MS Fund.

There will be gospel singing and speakers from 6 to 8 p.m. and admission is $5. Former teammates, former coaches Shell Dula and Bill Owens, former co-workers and friends will speak.

The event will continue until midnight, but only those 21 and over will be allowed to attend after 9 p.m. Admission for the entire event until midnight is $10.

Hot dog plates will be sold for $2.50 Along with DJ Big and his brother Brian, who is known as Boogie Fresh, Motown Bobby and DJ Airwolf also will deejay.

Mauney thanked businesses and individuals who have donated items for the benefit.

“I haven’t heard ‘no’ from anybody,” he said

Henderson grew up in Carlisle, a son of Joyce Derrick and the late Rev. Charles Henderson. He and his wife, B.J., have two sons, Caleb, 12; and Caden, 7.

Henderson was chosen for the Shrine Bowl as a junior, which is quite rare. He also was the starting center in basketball and threw shot put.

He was recruited by multiple colleges, in and out of the state, and chose South Carolina State, where he received a scholarship and was on the football team for two years. He is a member of the Union County High School Sports Hall of Fame.

He worked for the Department of Corrections for three years before joining the Carlisle Police Department. He worked with the Jonesville Police Department before joining public safety.

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(For more information about the benefit or to make a donation call Cornell Mauney at 762-6080.)