Kenneth Marshall Henson

Kenneth Marshall Henson, age 90, of Sea Island, Georgia, died on February 6, 2016. He was born in Athens, Georgia, on October 8, 1925, the son of the late Mr. & Mrs. Carlton Monroe Henson. After graduating in 1942 from Athens High School, he entered the University of Georgia and shortly thereafter enlisted in the Navy. Following his discharge from the Navy, he returned to the University of Georgia and at age 19 received his B.S. degree in mathematics in 1945. While at the University he served as President of Phi Kappa Literary Society, was a member of the Debate Team, President of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, a member of the Inter-fraternity Council, Gridiron, Blue Key Honor Society, and Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Society. He earned his Law Degree from the University of Georgia Law School in 1947 and was admitted at the age of 21 to the Georgia Bar.Mr. Henson engaged in the private practice of law from 1950 until 1988 in Columbus Georgia. In the 1970s he served as General Counsel of AFLAC during which time the company was listed on the New York Stock Exchange and received its license to do business in Japan. He was a member of the Columbus Lawyers Club and during his tenure as president, House Bill Number 557 was passed, establishing and funding a public law library in Muscogee County. He also served as a member and president of The Younger Lawyers Section of the Georgia Bar Association.Kenneth was an active alumnus of the University of Georgia School Of Law and served as President of the Law School Association 1972-73 and Chairman of the Board of Visitors in 1976. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Scroll Award in 1978. While serving as Chairman of the Law School Association, his efforts enabled the law school to have a separate endowment within the UGA Foundation.

In Columbus, Kenneth was a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church and served as Chairman of the Board and Chairman of the Board of Trustees. In 1969 he was Chairman of a city-wide Billy Graham-Leighton Ford Crusade and in 1971, was instrumental in starting the Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast. After leaving Columbus, Kenneth was a founding member of Wesley United Methodist Church at Frederica on St. Simons Island where he attended and taught Sunday school for many years. He was a founding member of the Sea Island Ocean Forest Golf Club where he played for many years. Kenneth was an avid bridge player at the Golden Isles Duplicate Bridge Club where he achieved the status of Life Master in 2010. He will always be remembered for the passion he displayed in all aspects of his life. Kenneth was a devoted husband, loving father and grandfather, dedicated lawyer, golf enthusiast, determined bridge player, and most importantly, a humble and faithful servant of God. Kenneth is survived by his wife of 63 years, Sue Boykin Henson, and his children Kenneth Marshall Henson, Jr. (Chris) of Columbus, Georgia; Carlton Monroe Henson II (Inken) of Tallahassee, Florida; and Susie Henson Millsap (Temple) of Montgomery, Alabama. He leaves behind 12 grandchildren: Catherine Henson Curlet (Alex); Susie Henson Marshall (Taylor); Laura Henson Strickler (Matthew); Eugene Temple Millsap, IV (Laura); Kenneth Henson Millsap (Caroline); Carlton Henson Millsap; Mark Allen Millsap; Kenneth Marshall Henson, III; Jacqueline Boykin Henson; Evelyn Christensen Henson; Nell Blair Henson and Theodore Carlton Henson. He is survived by five great grandchildren: Laura Catherine Marshall; William Taylor Marshall, III; Catherine Margaret Curlet; Julia Hatcher Millsap; Sallie Wood Millsap; and Charles Henson Millsap. The Henson family offers their most sincere gratitude to Trish Adams for her many years of faithful service, to Carolyn Anderson, Willie Mae Burnett, Linda Dunwoody, Felton Jackson and Starla Saddler for their extraordinary and loving care and to Ann Heins, Tom Payne and the rest of the Ocean Forest staff for their love and service to the entire Henson family. A memorial service will be held at Wesley United Methodist Church at Frederica on St. Simons Island, Georgia at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, February 9. Contributions can be made to Wesley United Methodist Church at Frederica or Hospice of Golden Isles. Edo Miller and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. www.edomillerandsons.com