On Saturday morning, members of the Memphis community and Eliza Fletcher’s family and friends will gather to say their final goodbyes to the Tennessee educator and mother.
Fletcher, who was 34 years old at the time of her death, was out jogging close to the University of Memphis campus at approximately 4:30 a.m. on September 2 when she was reportedly kidnapped and murdered by a stranger named Cleotha Henderson. The memorial services for Fletcher will be held at the Second Presbyterian Church in Memphis, Tennessee. It was at this church that she first met Richard, her husband of eight years.
Henderson, who has a history of violent criminal behavior, has since been charged with multiple counts, including first-degree murder, premeditated murder, and murder in perpetration of kidnappings, in addition to other counts that include aggravated kidnapping and tampering with/fabricating evidence. These charges are in addition to other counts that include murder in perpetration of kidnappings.
In addition to being a married mother of two children, Fletcher was also a descendant of the Orgill fortune. She taught at the Promise Academy before taking a position at St. Mary’s Episcopal School, where she was in charge of the junior kindergarten class.