Mary Ruth "Hall" Henderson
Obituary -
Mary Ruth Hall Henderson
Wife, Mother, Artist, Volunteer, Angel on Earth
Mary R. Henderson, 85, of Oak Ridge, TN died peacefully on March
3, 2016 at University of Tennessee Medical Center of stroke.
Born October 15, 1931, in Gadsden, Ala. she was the twin
daughter of Hugh and Edweina Hall of Gadsden, Ala.
Mrs. Henderson is survived by her children; Joy Henderson and
Emily Newell of Oak Ridge, TN; Alan and wife Kathy Henderson of
Knoxville, TN; grandchildren, Jonathan Lesher of Cumberland, MD,
Mary “Jackie” Newell of Pickens, SC; great grandchild; Neha
Newell. The extended family includes brother Jerry Hall of
Gadsden, AL, Martha Turner of Atlanta, GA.
Mary was preceded in death by husband Donald A. Henderson Sr.;
son Donald “Donnie” Henderson Jr.; parents Hugh and Edweina
Hall; brother Hugh A. Hall.
Mary was married on Dec. 25, 1950 to Donald Henderson Sr. in
Gadsden, AL. Donald served in the U.S. Air Force for 19 years.
They lived in eight cities and on the island of Guam and last in
Rantoul, IL. After retiring from the military, they moved to Oak
Ridge, TN in 1970.
She was a lifetime artist and enthusiast especially with twin
sister Martha. Mary took art classes and then graduated with a
degree in Art in 1988 from Roane State Community College. She
had numerous exhibitions and sold much of her artwork.
One of her great passions was traveling. She visited all 50
states and many foreign countries including Australia, Japan,
Philippines and Europe. The family took extensive family driving
trips during the 1960’s all over the U.S. Mary enjoyed
travelling with Donald, Martha and her husband James Turner.
Mary and Donald spent one summer working for the Yellowstone
National Park just for fun.
Mary was very active at the Kern Memorial Methodist Church in
Oak Ridge, TN especially with the Sunday School Group. Mary and
Donald enjoyed the Grand Squares Club of Square Dancers of
Knoxville. Mary also spent most Fridays volunteering at the
Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge.
The family requests that flowers or memorials be in the form of
donations to -
Kern Memorial Methodist Church, 451 E. Tennessee Ave., Oak
Ridge, TN 37830, 865-483-5273
Oak Ridge Art Center, P.O. Box 7005, 201 Badger Ave, Oak Ridge,
TN 37831-3305, 865-482-1441
The memorial service will be held at the Kern Memorial Methodist
Church on Saturday, March 11, 2016. Receiving of friends and
family will be between 12 noon and 2 p.m. with the service at 2
p.m. A graveside service will be on March 11 at 3 p.m. at Oak
Ridge Memorial Park.