Frances Hawkins Henson

Frances Hawkins Henson, 90, of Lexington, formerly of Shelbyville, died on Monday, the 2nd of August, 2021, at her residence. Born in Washington County, Kentucky, she was the daughter of the late Robert Clellon and Betty Pearl Sparrow Hawkins and the widow of the Reverend Dr. Harold Edward Henson. She was a member of Centenary United Methodist Church in Shelbyville.

As a devout Christian and dedicated wife of a Methodist minister, Frances served various churches across the Commonwealth. She also served as a member, district president, and state president of the United Methodist Women (UMW), and she started several UMW Circles in various churches during a period of over fifty-five years.

Receiving her bachelor's degree with honors from Asbury College, she pursued her career in education teaching high school English, Spanish, and math. Along with her late husband, she painted china and collected and sold antiques. Her many God-given gifts included her excellence as a cook and her abilities as a meticulous and accomplished seamstress.

A devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Frances was dedicated to her family. Her survivors include her son, Michael Edward Henson, and his wife, Jana, of Frankfort; her daughter, Jennifer Henson Decker, and her husband, Bill, of Waddy; her daughter, Lisa Henson Faulkner, and her husband, Todd, of Midlothian, Virginia; her six grandchildren, including Daniel Lee Henson of Manchester; David Michael Henson and his wife, Beth, of Lexington; Jessica Decker Schmidt and her husband, Danny, of Lexington; William Bernard Decker III and his wife, Amanda, of Louisville; Laura Beth Faulkner Williamson and her husband, Josh, of Midlothian, Virginia; Ann-Michelle Faulkner of Midlothian, Virginia; her three great-grandchildren, Charlotte Henson Schmidt, Andrew Daniel Schmidt, and Isabella Grace Williamson; her sister-in-law, Louise Hawkins, of Louisville, wife of Frances' deceased brother James; her brother, Kenneth Hawkins, and his wife, Linda, of Union; and her brother, Harold Hawkins, and his wife, Martha, of Bloomfield.

A Celebration of Life service were conducted at 11:00 A.M., Thursday, the 5th day of August, 2021, at the Centenary United Methodist Church in Shelbyville, with the Reverend Bishop Al Gwinn, the Reverend Henry Lenoir, the Reverend Daniel Henson, and the Reverend Trent Lloyd officiating. Interment was in the Highview Cemetery in Chaplin. Visitation was from 9:30 A.M. until 10:45 A.M., also on Thursday, at the church.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to the Red Bird Conference, Post Office Box 88, Big Creek, Kentucky 40914, or to Operation Care, Inc., Post Office Box 1393, Shelbyville, Kentucky 40066. Arrangements are under the direction of the Hall-Taylor Funeral Home of Shelbyville, and online condolences may be expressed at www.halltaylorfuneralhomes.com.