[1] The leadership qualities she evinced in her role convinced a group of local Democratic Party leaders to suggest, in 1923, that she run for a seat in the Virginia House of Delegates.

She was the first woman to preside over the Assembly, and sat on four Committees: Roads and Internal Navigation; Counties, Cities, and Towns; Moral and Social Welfare; and Executive Expenditures.

[3] Her health, however, had begun to fail in the spring of 1925, and she returned to her parents' home in Jefferson City; she died there in July, without the chance to run for reelection, although she had been unanimously renominated.

[1] At her death governor E. Lee Trinkle praised her "many virtues, clear vision and noble aspirations", and ordered flags at the capitol building to be flown at half-staff in her honor.

[1] The House of Delegates adopted the following resolution in memory of Helen Henderson:[8] WHEREAS, In the providence and inscrutable wisdom of God, it was seen proper to remove from active public life in this Common-wealth and from her seat in this body Helen T. Henderson, who was taken to her final reward on the 12th day of July, 1925, and, WHEREAS, It seems fitting to this House of Delegates that some testimonial to the great worth of this gentle woman should be spread as a memorial on the records of this body, and, WHEREAS, No member of this lower branch of the General Assembly ever dignified with loftier ideals, with purer heart or with braver spirit a seat in this Assembly, now, THEREFORE, Be it resolved by this body that the House go on permanent record in loving testimony to the many virtues, clear vision and noble aspirations of Helen T. Henderson, who dignified with her presence and purified with her lofty spirit this branch of the Legislature, which now goes on record in its acknowledgment of its respect for and obligation to her memory.