A recognition for a woman who has served the city for decades, both in and out of government, is slated for this weekend.

Barbara A. Henson will receive honors at 10 a.m. on Saturday from the City of Meridian at the Highland Park swimming pool — now called the Barbara A. Henson Aquatic Center. The ceremony will honor Henson for 28 years of service on the Meridian City Council, as well as for years of service to the city’s young people, explained Laura Carmichael, the city’s cultural affairs coordinator.

“She was very instrumental in teaching and working with the youth of the Meridian Swim Team,” Carmichael said, noting Henson’s contributions to “the park and the swimming pool and the youth of the community.”

Henson recalled with fondness her days, decades ago, coaching the Meridian Swim Team and working with the young swimmers.

“We had fun doing whatever we did,” she said.

Henson recalled, too, the days when she grew up in the neighborhood.

“My grandmother walked me to the Highland Park pool,” she said. “They had a wading pool, and I went there all through my (childhood) in the summers.”

Henson is the owner of Barbara Henson’s Nursery School, Kindergarten & Swim Gym.

Henson retired as the Ward 3 City Councilwoman in June, after 28 years, and the council approved the mayor’s proclamation to rename the Highland Park Swimming Pool the Barbara A. Henson Aquatic Center. The city also proclaimed June 20 to June 25 to be “Barbara Henson Days.”

“You all are just very special to me,” Henson said, as reported at the time by The Meridian Star, “and I just thank you more than you’ll ever know.”