Wanda Henry-Jenkins is Bereavement Services Manager for Vitas Healthcare in Chicago and an HFA Hospice Hero. She has worked in healthcare for more than 50 years as a nurse, chaplain, and bereavement volunteer manager. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Henry-Jenkins, who is also known affectionately as “Reverend Wanda,” was a co-leader of Vitas’ national online support groups. For her groundbreaking work with families who have experienced sudden death and homicide, she was awarded the Miss Clairol Take Charge Award, the National Association of Social Workers’ Public Citizen Award, the National Council of Negro Women’s Tribute to Black Women Community Leaders, and the University of Pennsylvania’s Black Health Conference Nursing Award. Henry-Jenkins is the author of Just Us: Overcoming and Understanding Homicidal Loss and Grief, and Hard Work: A Guided Journal for Survivors of Murder Victims. She writes workbooks for individuals coping with death and loss. She is featured in several videos: At Death’s Door, Beyond Death’s Door, and Children Grieve Too.
