HENLEYFIELD.COMmunity, Inc.

On the map

Click image to see full-sized map.

Henleyfield is a community of 700 homes located in a circular area radiating 3.5 miles from the intersection of Hwy. 43 North and Shirley Wise Road (site of New Henleyfield Baptist Church).

Henleyfield Community is a 38 square mile area located 75 minutes from New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast. It is 15 miles northwest of Picayune, MS and 12 miles southeast of Bogalusa, LA.

Henleyfield is topographically diverse with elevations of up to 220 feet, hills of 60 feet, and flat farm lands. Henleyfield borders the Pearl River Wildlife Management Area and it's 34,000 acres of protected forests with excellent fishing, hunting, boating and wildlife study.

Our community

This musical group was chosen to symbolize Henleyfield community - neighbors who are lively, talented, informal, of all ages - lovely people who enjoy the quiet life in a beautiful part of Mississippi. We are a community of families who value harmony, respect for each other, and for God.

.Join us for HENLEYFIELD FALL FESTIVAL, 11/8-10/07, at Henleyfield Community Center....Call Laura for info 601.798.0698

Community safety

The Henleyfield Volunteer Fire Department fleet of fire trucks.

Henleyfield community has an excellent volunteer fire department - with four new fire engines. Due to equipment upgrades in 2001, property insurance rates have declined 30-40%.* Most of the volunteer firemen are certified Emergency Medical Technicians or First Responders.

There are now more calls from medical emergencies than fires. Our VFD is on the 911 network, which permits neighboring VFD's to respond to emergencies - if needed. Henleyfield community is 45-60 minutes from major medical centers in Slidell, Hattiesburg, and on the Gulf Coast.

*Henleyfield Fire Dept. has attained a Class 8 certification - check with your
homeowners insurance agent to find out if your rates are based on a Class
8 certification.

More about Henleyfield

A number of families residing in Henleyfield are descendents of settlers who arrived here 150 years ago. Growth in Henleyfield has come principally from in-migration from neighboring Parishes and from new employees of Stennis Space Center. No statistics are available to ascertain how many are full-time homeowners versus weekenders.

There is one subdivision, no apartment complexes nor any industry in Henleyfield. There are four churches and one grocery store/slaughterhouse. Community water is available in Henleyfield. Most homes are on lots ranging from larger than one acre to 600 acres.

There have been four different economic cycles in Henleyfield's history. First, logging dominated the economy until the mid-1930's. The tung oil business (growing tung nuts for paint oils) replaced logging and lasted until the tung orchards were destroyed by Hurricane Camille in 1969. Cattle farming followed the tung economy and lasted until the mid-1990's. Now, mini-farms/hobby-farms and homebuilding are the fourth economic cycle.

The HENLEYFIELD.COMmunity Board of Directors.
Top Left, Mary McCullough, Sheila Burge (Secretary), Joy Fortenberry, Gary Clary,
Joe Stack, Fran Hunter, Paulette Fortenberry, Ken Newburger (Vice President)
Bottom Left: Ann Burge, Ann Bell (Treasurer), Jan Bowen (President), Laura Ousset
Missing: Dave Suttora and Manya Creel Bryan.

In early 2005, HENLEYFIELD.COMmunity Inc., a non-profit-corporation, was formed. The Board of Directors is composed equally of Henleyfield born "core" families and those not born here. HENLEYFIELD.COMmunity, Inc. has received tax exemption status as a non-profit corporation.

The officers of HENLEYFIELD.COMmunity, Inc. are: Jan Bowen, Pres.; Ken Newburger, V.P.; Sheila Burge, Sec; Ann Bell, Treas.

Our mission

Henleyfield.com is the voice of HENLEYFIELD.COMmunity, Inc., a non-profit organization chartered by the State of Mississippi in January, 2005. This non-profit organization and its website were developed and are directed by Henleyfielders -for Henleyfielders. All Directors are volunteers and not paid.

Our objectives are to bring our community closer together by members working together for the benefit of the Community. The website, henleyfield.com, is a vehicle of communications to help the Community become more aware of events, initiatives and resources.

We do not take advocacy positions on political, religious, social or cultural matters, but may refer our readers to advocacy groups. We will seek memberships and donations to fund the initiation of projects to better the lives and well-being of Henleyfielders. Such projects, once established, must anticipate being self-supporting.

Community goals

The goals of HENLEYFIELD.COMmunity, Inc. are:

Create "Henleyfield.com" to support community projects
Enhance participation in Neighborhood Watch program
Get "Henleyfielders" on the Water Board
Push for a cellular tower near or in Henleyfield
Renovate the Henleyfield Community Center
Get an ATM machine in Henleyfield
Bring broadband internet to all of Henleyfield
Encourage building of a sandwich or coffee shop
Reestablish a kids sports program in Henleyfield
Establish a Substance Counseling Chapter in Henleyfield
Establish a Henleyfield Historical Society
Establish a Senior Citizens Program