John "Tony" Anthony Hensley

John Anthony “Tony” Hensley ran into the arms of his Savior Jesus Christ on Monday, September 21, 2026. Born July 17, 1973 in Charlottesville, VA to John Marion “Johnny” and Elizabeth Josephine “Betty Jo” (Clark) Hensley, Tony was their only child and the light of their lives.

He placed his faith and trust in Christ at an early age, and spent the remainder of his life in a constant state of joy and gratitude for the gift of eternal salvation. In addition to his love for technology, breakfast food, boats, and shopping, Tony’s abiding passion was for his music. He had a gift for singing, and blessed crowds with his voice and stunning aptitude for harmony and counter-melody. His gospel group, “Vertical Praise” traveled the country for years, singing of God’s love to tens of thousands.

Tony graduated from the University of Virginia with a Bachelors degree in Commerce and a Masters in Accounting. As a result, orange and blue became his favorite colors for the rest of his life. Despite his many physical challenges, Tony accomplished every goal he ever set, including becoming a licensed drone pilot, a boat captain, a photographer, an entrepreneur as the owner of Sky Pics, and convincing his “dream girl” to marry him.

He is preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Slaughter and Mary Frances Hensley; his maternal grandparents, Jack and Hazeltine Clark; and cousins Steve and Marcus.

Tony is survived by his loving and devastated wife, Amy; his “Sweet Pea” daughter, Erin; his devoted parents, Johnny and Betty Jo; and hundreds of admiring co-workers, friends, clients, fellow musicians, and fans.

A celebration of life will take place on Saturday, September 26 at 11am at Northside Baptist Church, 1325 E. Rio Road in Charlottesville, with the family receiving visitors at 10am. Burial and a covered-dish reception to follow at Mooreland Baptist Church in North Garden.

Tony was the kindest, gentlest, funniest, most loving, tenderhearted, respectable man God ever put on this earth, and there wasn’t a negative cell in his body. As such, please honor Tony’s memory by removing all sentences that begin with “I”, love people for who they are instead of their body type or income, make a choice to find the good in all things, and humbly ask Jesus to help you become more Christlike.