Ms Esther "Nickie" Henson

Esther “Nickie” Henson passed away on August 21, 2026 at 89 years of age. She was born on September 30, 1936 in DuBois, Pennsylvania and later moved with her family to nearby Glen Richey, both in Clearfield County. The third oldest of seven children, she graduated from Clearfield High School in 1954 and moved to Washington, D.C. a year later, where she was a Files Supervisor for the FBI.

She married William K. “Bill” Henson on May 14, 1960, who also worked for the federal government as a restoration specialist with the Smithsonian Institute. The couple was married for 55 years until Bill’s passing in 2015.

In 1962, they built a house in suburban Lanham, MD, and two years later their only child, William E. “Will” Henson was born. After her son’s birth, she left work to become a full-time homemaker, and was active in the community, including the local PTA, where she served a term as Secretary.

In March 1980, the family moved to New Bern, North Carolina when Bill retired, in order to be closer to the Outer Banks and other NC beaches that the family loved and vacationed at yearly. The family joined Garber Church in New Bern shortly after moving, where Nickie remained a member for 46 years. She was active in many roles in the church but none that she loved more than her 17 years at Garber Preschool as a Teacher’s Aid, between 1981 and 1998. Nickie and her husband Bill were also members for many years of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary and the U.S.S. Wisconsin Association, Bill’s ship during the Korean Conflict.

Since childhood, Nickie was an avid lover of sports, playing baseball, softball, and volleyball, and was a member of her FBI section’s women’s softball team. She also enjoyed bowling, tennis and outings on the family’s sailboat that they bought shortly after moving to New Bern. Her greatest sporting love was golf, which she took up in her 30’s and played continuously into her early 80’s. She and her husband were members of Quaker Neck Country Club in nearby Trenton, NC for over 20 years.

Nickie was also blessed with a creative side, which included writing poetry, singing and playing her baritone ukulele, and encouraging her son’s creative pursuits in theater and music. She was both a compassionate caregiver and joyful presence in all the lives she touched over her long life. Whether caring for her mother, mother-in-law or younger sister, lending a sympathetic ear to a friend, or just enjoying a good party, communal meal, game of cards or dominoes, her warmth, crazy sense of humor and genuine love for all was ever present for countless family, friends and neighbors through the years.

She is survived by her son Will Henson and daughter-in-law Kristin Henson of Goochland, VA, sister Mary Montano of Alexandria, VA, brother Vern Newman of Sherman, TX, as well as four nieces, four nephews and their children. She will be greatly missed but always remembered as a wonderful daughter, sister, wife, mother and friend.

A celebration of life will be held at Garber Church, 4201 Country Club Road, New Bern, NC 28562, on October 15, 2026, from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (https://www.bcrf.org/blog/honor-and-memorial-giving/) or to the Garber Church Preschool Scholarship Fund, 4201 Country Club Rd, New Bern, North Carolina, US (www.garberchurch.org).