Wikipedia

Devon Henry

Devon M. Henry is an American contractor and entrepreneur best known for leading the removal of more than 20 Confederate monuments across the southeastern United States between 2020 and 2022, including the Robert E. Lee statue in Richmond, Virginia.[1][2] His work received national and international attention for its historical significance, logistical complexity, and the personal risk involved.[3] In 2025, Norfolk State University honored Henry by naming its campus communications tower the Devon M. Henry Communication Tower.[4]

Devon M. Henry
Alma materNorfolk State University
OccupationsEntrepreneur, Activist
Known forRemoval of over 24 confederate monuments

Confederate monument removal

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Devon Henry removing the AP Hill Confederate Memorial in Richmond, Virginia

Henry came to prominence in 2020 amid nationwide protests following the murder of George Floyd, when many local and state governments sought contractors to remove Confederate statues.[1] Many contractors declined due to safety concerns and political backlash.[5] Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney’s administration approached Henry’s company, Team Henry Enterprises, after others refused the work.[3][6] For safety, Henry initially used a shell company name to conceal his identity, as contractors involved in removals had received death threats.[5]

Henry’s crew began removals in July 2020, including statues along Monument Avenue such as Stonewall Jackson and other Confederate figures.[7] In September 2021, after legal challenges were resolved, Henry’s team removed the 21-foot statue of Robert E. Lee from its 40-foot pedestal in Richmond.[8][9][10] He also oversaw the removal of statues in Charlottesville and other Virginia cities.[11]

The removal of the Lee statue, in particular, garnered national and international coverage and was described as a symbolic turning point in the public reckoning with Confederate iconography, highlighted by American Society of Landscape Architects.[12][13][14] A special prosecutor later cleared the Richmond mayor’s office of wrongdoing in awarding the contract, affirming that the selection process was proper.[15]

By the end of 2022, Henry’s company had removed more than 20 Confederate monuments across the Southeast and in 2023, the company was also responsible for removing the Confederate Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery.[2][16]

Early life and education

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Henry grew up in the Hampton Roads region of Virginia.[1] He worked at a McDonald's restaurant at age 14 alongside his mother, who later became a franchise owner in Richmond.[17] He earned a bachelor's degree in biology from Norfolk State University and later a master's degree in environmental management from the University of Maryland.[1]

Business career

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In the mid-2000s, Henry left a corporate role at General Electric to purchase a small construction firm, which he developed into Team Henry Enterprises, based in Newport News, Virginia.[17] The company provides construction, environmental contracting, disaster response, and project management services, and has completed projects such as the Memorial to Enslaved Laborers at the University of Virginia.[1]

Honors and recognition

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In July 2025, Norfolk State University named its campus communications tower after Henry in recognition of his professional achievements and support for historically Black colleges and universities.[4] In December 2025, Henry was conferred an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Norfolk State University. He has received awards from business and civic organizations, including recognition from the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia which honored Henry with its inaugural 1895 Living Legacy - Enduring Legacy Award, inspired by Arthur Ashe, to honor those using education, arts, or culture to build lasting impact.[17]

References

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  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Schneider, Gregory S.; Vozzella, Laura; Armus, Teo (January 2, 2023). "White contractors wouldn't remove Confederate statues. So a Black man did it". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
  2. 1 2 Stevens, Matt (April 17, 2022). "For a Black Man Hired to Undo a Confederate Legacy, It Has Not Been Easy". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
  3. 1 2 Oliver, Ned (January 4, 2023). "The man who took down Richmond's Confederate monuments". Axios Richmond. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
  4. 1 2 Blair, Tannock (July 24, 2025). "Norfolk State University names communication tower after alum Devon Henry". WRIC 8News. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
  5. 1 2 "Black contractor braves threats in removing Richmond statues". AP News. October 25, 2020. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
  6. ↑ Marshall, Maggi (July 29, 2022). "Contractor who removed the Confederate statues said if he didn't step up, he worried no one would". CBS 6 News Richmond WTVR. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
  7. ↑ Oliver, Ned (July 2, 2020). "'I've been wanting to see this all my life.' Celebration in Richmond as Confederate memorials come down". Virginia Mercury. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Virginia cuts Confederate Gen. Robert Lee statue into pieces". Politico. Associated Press. September 8, 2021. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
  9. ↑ Deliso, Meredith; Shapiro, Emily (September 8, 2021). "Virginia removes 12-ton Robert E. Lee statue from Richmond's Monument Avenue". ABC News. Retrieved 2025-05-05.
  10. ↑ Patel, Vimal (2021-09-02). "Virginia Supreme Court Clears Path for Removal of Robert E. Lee Statue". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-05-05.
  11. ↑ Seisdedos, Iker (February 28, 2023). "A US city took down its racist statues. Where do they go next?". The Guardian. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
  12. ↑ "ASLA Announces 2023 Honors Recipients | asla.org". www.asla.org. Retrieved 2025-05-05.
  13. ↑ Seisdedos, Iker (2023-02-05). "Richmond took down its racist statues. But now, the city doesn't know what to do with them". EL PAÍS English. Retrieved 2025-05-05.
  14. ↑ "Photos of Robert E. Lee statue throughout time". Culture. 2025-05-05. Retrieved 2025-05-05.
  15. ↑ "Probe: No Wrongdoing In Richmond Statue-Removal Contract - CBS Baltimore". www.cbsnews.com. 2021-07-29. Retrieved 2025-08-12.
  16. ↑ Heim, Joe; Schneider, Gregory S. (2023-12-20). "Confederate statue at Arlington comes down after legal battle". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2025-05-05.
  17. 1 2 3 Major, Derek (May 2, 2022). "A Different Kind of Hard Work: Devon Henry Has Removed 23 Confederate Monuments". Black Enterprise. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
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