Henderson, Mary (1919–2004)
Henderson, Mary (1919–2004)
Greek-born journalist and host. Name variatios: Lady Henderson; Mary Barber. Born Mary Xenia Cawadias, Mar 29, 1919, in Athens, Greece; died Jan 22, 2004; dau. of Professor A.P. Cawadias (physician to King George of the Hellenes); m. Stephen Barber (journalist); m. Sir Nicholas Henderson (British diplomat), 1951; children: Alexandra, countess of Drogheda.
Moved to London with family with the fall of the Greek monarchy (1924); during WWII, was a Red Cross nurse in Albania and sentenced to death by SS for assisting the allies; released on liberation; as Mary Barber, was the only woman correspondent covering the Greek civil war (1946–49); as wife of the British ambassador to Warsaw, Bonn, Paris and Washington, was a legendary hostess during Reagan years; was also an advisor on the British Fashion Council and received its Hall of Fame Award. Appointed OBE (1988).
See also Xenia: A Memoir (1988).