Mary Ruth (Keesee) Henson, 90, of Roswell, Georgia, went to be with her LORD on June 3, 2021 after living over five years with impaired memory from vascular dementia and 19 months with the effects of a stroke. Her final hours were with her loving daughter, Clarisse, and her precious friend, Liza Mahn. They were praying with her and loving her until her LORD took her home.
Mary was born on January 11, 1931 to Willie and Maude Keesee in Ringwood, Oklahoma. Growing up, she lived in Catoosa, Oklahoma; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Denver, Colorado; Lawton, Oklahoma; and Greer, SC. Her early childhood was difficult on the rim of the Dust Bowl in western Oklahoma. Twice she lived with genteel older ladies, as her mother faced real hardships raising a family of her seven children and the son of her deceased twin alone. When Mary was with her mother, her mother always provided, hunting rabbits when required. Mary’s cherished older sister, Ruby, helped raise her through Mary’s high school years. This life instilled in Mary both personal frugality and a loving lifetime of sharing and grace and she received Christ before she was ten years old.
In 1948, she met Jack Alton Henson where he was a lifeguard at Paris Mountain State Park in Greenville, SC. They wed on December 2, 1950, after he was newly commissioned in the US Army. They went on to have four children, Clarisse, Jack, Jonathan, and Jeffrey.
She dedicated her early family life to being a wonderful wife and mother. Mary excelled at loving and supporting husband, Jack, and her four children, many times by herself. Jack was ordered away to the Korean War, the Berlin Wall, and four tours to Vietnam. Her loving resolve and determination, with nighttime Bible stories guided her family through very difficult times. She was there as the commander’s wife when Jack took an airmobile infantry battalion to Vietnam and always guided her children in the ways of the LORD. She took the family twice to Ft. Benning, GA; twice to Ft. Bragg, NC; to Okinawa; Ft. Ord, CA; Germany; Ft. Hood, TX; and Ft. Riley, KS. When Jack went to Vietnam, she moved to Enid, OK, multiple times to help care for her mother. She lived her life in the abundance of His grace and Christ’s love, always sharing and caring.
For twenty years after the children were grown, Mary served soldiers at Fort Bragg looking to extend their education through a local university. In retirement Mary continued serving her LORD in the local church and growing ever closer through Bible Study Fellowship. Simply, she loved and served others in her LORD’s grace, never shy to share Him with others.
Mary was predeceased by her husband, Jack Alton Henson; her parents, Willie and Maude Keesee; her five brothers, Alan Elrie Keesee, Troy Waine Keesee, Valner Devon Keesee, and Jimmy Weldon Keesee, and William Merle Keesee; her sister, Ruby Corene Keesee Loomis; and her grandson, Christopher Evans Henson. She is survived by her four children, Clarisse Henson, Jack Warren Clayton Henson, Jonathan Wade Henson, and Jeffrey Wayne Henson; eight grandchildren, Brian Joseph Moon, Jill Clarisse Moon Wise, Ginny Michelle Henson Madden, Julia Leah Henson Belford, Jennifer Clarisse Henson Nicholson, Jessica Marie Henson Gilbreath, Emily Grace Henson, and Mary Elizabeth Henson; and eighteen great grandchildren, Rosaria Jill Moon, Ezra Cornelius Moon, Nathaniel Joseph Moon, Raleigh Brian Wise, Nell Beyenech Wise, Jack Percy Wise, Tristan Mark Madden, Elijah James Madden, Liliana Maxine Madden, Christopher Joseph Belford, Jr., Isaiah Clayton Belford, Simon Timothy Belford, Sydney Clarisse Jones, Riley Marie Jones, Romey Jean Nicholson, Broderick Jon Nicholson, Bailey Wade Gilbreath, and Rosalee Opal Gilbreath.
The family requests that all flowers and notes are sent to Northside Christian Church, 9801 Whitesville Rd., Fortson, GA 31808, (706) 324-5220, Northside Christian Church - Home (comeandseencc.com).
A viewing will be held at 1:00 PM, Wednesday, June 9, 2021, at Northside Christian Church. Following the viewing the funeral service will commence at 2:00 PM, Wednesday, June 9, 2021, Northside Christian Church and on Facebook at Northside Christian Church - Home | Facebook. A graveside service will follow at Parkhill Cemetery, 4071 Macon Rd., Columbus, GA 31907, (706) 563-2372, Striffler-Hamby Mortuary - Columbus | Funeral & Cremation (dignitymemorial.com).
Northside Christian Church was Mary’s church home for many years. All of its ministries were precious to her and she enthusiastically supported them. Flowers will be plentiful. The LORD’s ministries are eternal. She would have any gifts in lieu of flowers to go to Northside Christian Church either via the church website or mailing directly to the church at the address in Fortson.
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