Kenneth Henson

Kenneth Leon Henson, 93, passed away Wednesday, March 30, 2022, at the Washington County Nursing Home in Chatom. He was born May 26, 1928, in Wagarville, to Daniel Jelks and Frances Estelle (Furr) Henson. The family moved to Hawthorn soon after he was born. Kenneth was the second of five children and grew up attending the historic Washington Baptist Church in Hawthorn. He was baptized in Lewis Creek at the age of 12 and at age 16, he began to feel the call of God to preach. He preached his first sermon at Washington Baptist Church.
After Kenneth graduated from Leroy High School, he went to work logging. This was nothing new to him, as he grew up working long, hard hours in the woods stripping and gathering turpentine from pine trees and working on the farm. He married his high school sweetheart, Loriene Bailey, in October 1947. They became active in the newly formed Wagarville Baptist Church and felt called by God to enter full time ministry in January 1949. Kenneth later graduated from Clarke College in MS, and then Howard College (Samford University) in Birmingham. Followed by three years at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary where he attended Seminary full time, worked a full 8-hour night shift at a steel mill, and preached on the weekends. This was with a wife and three school aged children at home!
He was preceded in death by his parents, Jelks and Estelle Henson; wife, Loriene Bailey Henson; brothers, Dan Henson and Frank Henson and sister, Peggy Henson Miller.
Kenneth is survived by his three daughters, Charlotte Henson Callihan (Brent), May Henson Gilham (Ed), and Kay Henson Cole (Buddy); grandchildren, Amanda Cole Stott, Barrett Gilham (Caitlin) and Brittany Gilham (Jake) Swindal; five great grandchildren, Ivy Rains Stott, Damon Wolf Stott, Blair Kathryn Gilham, Riley May Gilham and Graham Jacob Swindal; one brother, Billy Wade Henson,and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m., on Saturday, April 2, 2022, at Spring Hill Baptist Church on Carpenter Road, Millry with Bro. Travis Agee officiating. Bob Jenkins will present a special commentary. Visitation will begin one prior to the service. Interment will follow the service at Old Washington Cemetery in Hawthorn with Lathan Funeral Home directing.
Pallbearers will be Chris Henson, Rusty Pace, Terry Murphy, Allen Bailey, Bryan Bailey, and Joe Bailey.
Honorary pallbearers will be the Deacons of Spring Hill Baptist Church.
Condolences may be offered at www.lathanfuneralhome.com.