When the Light Finds Us

When the Light Finds Us is a testament to the indomitable human spirit and the power of a mother’s love.

Judy Henderson was a single mother with a successful small business of her own when she was arrested then convicted of a crime she did not commit.  Sentenced to life in prison, Henderson faced the untenable: leaving her three-year-old son and thirteen-year-old daughter as she entered the brutal prison system.  Even as she faced violence, mistreatment, and even encounters with live snakes and scorpions, Henderson persevered with hope and determination. She never lost sight of her innocence or her deeply held role as a mother, yet she also gained new purpose, fighting for her clemency and for the rights of incarcerated women, especially mothers. 

Henderson’s unwavering faith transformed her incarceration into a mission of self-improvement and advocacy as she earned her GED and paralegal certificate, worked with nonprofit prison programs that fostered connections between incarcerated mothers and their children, and played a crucial role in passing Missouri’s first battered women’s bill. Equipped with knowledge and new skills, she became a guiding light for other imprisoned women and mothers, shepherding them through the clemency process.

As the years passed, Henderson experienced hope through serendipitous events and calls, letters, and too infrequent visits with her children and other family. With the support of the prosecutor who once sought her conviction and the Missouri governor, Henderson’s perseverance was rewarded when she was granted clemency and received a full pardon after nearly thirty-five years behind bars.

When the Light Finds Us is a gripping narrative that explores the depths of human resilience and the transformative power of hope. Henderson’s story will inspire readers to persevere through their own struggles, reminding us of the strength of the human spirit and the unbreakable bond of a mother’s love. In a world often filled with darkness, Judy Henderson’s journey is a beacon of light, illuminating the path to redemption and the triumph of justice.