ST. LOUIS — Joe Henry, the former Negro Leagues player who earned the nickname "Prince" for his skill at entertaining crowds, was being mourned by family, friends and baseball fans.

A funeral service was planned for today at the Lovejoy Civic Center in Brooklyn, Ill., followed by burial at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery.

Henry died Friday. He was 78.

Henry grew up in Brooklyn, Ill., and played in the Negro Leagues from 1950-59 as an infielder for Memphis, Detroit Stars, Indianapolis and the Detroit Clowns.

According to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, Henry later worked for American Motors. He became one of the first African-Americans in United Auto Workers' history to serve as a chief steward.