Lois Marie Atkinson Henson left this world on Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022.
She and her sisters used to sing a song with the refrain, “I’ll leave without saying goodbye,” and that is what she did. She died six weeks to the day after the passing of her husband of 77 years, Edward B Henson.
She was born just over the Floyd County line on Aug. 8, 1923. Her parents were Goldie Gaines Jewell and Robert Demarcus Atkinson. Her siblings were Freda Cooper, Maurice Atkinson, Ruth Willis, Cline Atkinson, Billy Atkinson, and Joseph Atkinson. They all preceded her in death except Ruth, who turns 105 this month.
Lois grew up in the house where she was born. She attended a one-room school in Otey, Shawsville High School, Emmanuel College in Franklin Springs, Georgia, and Central State University in Oklahoma. She majored in childhood education, but first taught shorthand and typing in high school. She then taught elementary grades at the Elliston School and first grade at Belleview and Christiansburg.
After she and her family moved to Franklin Springs, Ga. in 1968 she continued to teach first grade until she retired. For much of her teaching career she was able to start the school day with a Bible story and prayer. And there was always singing! Lois loved God first and loved her family, church, and community. She cherished her heritage and told countless stories of growing up near both sides of her family.
She wrote a children’s book about her brother Cline’s dog, Andy. She wrote a book about the Jewells and co-wrote a book about the Atkinsons. Her genealogy searches took place before the internet and ancestry websites. She put a lot of hours and miles into her research, a labor of love. Her research made it possible for her to join the Daughters of the American Revolution.
An African proverb says, “When an elder dies, a library burns to the ground.” Her knowledge about family and community history was invaluable. She sang in church with her sisters, traveled and sang with a trio when she was in college, sang with her husband Ed, and later with her daughter. She had a strong alto voice that remained strong even when her body was giving out. In her last months, dementia caused her to be confused and sometimes anxious. Often her instinct would be to start singing a hymn or chorus, thanking God for His goodness and faithfulness.
She loved her grandchildren, greats, and great-greats and kept each one of the five grandchildren at one time or another while their parents worked. She wrote poetry, including a poem describing the talents and personality of each grandchild. She called the name of each family member in prayer every day.
She is survived by her son, Perry Henson, and his wife, Gloria; daughter Kathy Henson Klaudt; grandchildren Michael Henson (Karen), Kari Howard (Gordon), Kristi Snapp, Jessica Largen (DJ) and Michaela Liles (Wade); great-grandchildren Justin Henson (Kayla), Katelyn Roberts (Jake), Abigail, Isaiah and Sarah Henson, Joshua, Haley and Hunter Howard, Ian and Josie Snapp, JJ and Melody Largen, and Sadie and Sawyer Liles; and great-great-grandchildren Emerson and Barrett Roberts and Blaire and Ivan Henson.
Visitation was Thursday, Dec. 8, and the funeral was Friday, Dec. 9, at the Horne Funeral Home Chapel.
