Lillian Kirkley Henderson

November 25, 1922 - August 16, 2020

Lillian K. Henderson, 97, of Charlotte, died peacefully at Aldersgate Retirement Community on August 16, 2020, where she had resided since 2012. She was born in Pageland, SC, and was the daughter of the late Robert Jesse and Jewel Evans Chavis Kirkley. She is preceded in death by her husband Marvin F. Henderson. Having spent 71 happy years together, they truly defined affection, devotion, and love. Mrs. Henderson’s daughter Brenda Hopkins; her brother Robert J. Kirkley, Jr.; and sisters Phyllis Kirkley and Mary Blackwell also predeceased her. Mrs. Henderson lived a faith-filled and service-oriented life. She had been a member of Hawthorne Lane United Methodist Church for 70 years, where she was a member of the Walter J. Miller Class, the adult choir, co-founder of the Board of Visitors, recipient of the UMW’s special mission recognition award, as well as serving in many other roles. She practiced 17 years as a pediatric nurse for Dr. Jasper Stewart Hunt, and often made house calls to care for patients. A master gardener, she enjoyed working in her flower beds and sharing the produce from her husband’s and her vegetable garden with family and friends. She was a member of the Charlotte Women’s Club and Republican Women’s Club, and served as a Republican precinct judge for many years. During her later years, she had fond memories and stories of her travels with husband Marvin throughout the U.S. and internationally, but her favorite memories and place to be was the North Carolina coast surrounded by her children and grandchildren. Those who knew her will remember her as being a devoted wife, daughter, mother, grandmother, and friend. She is survived by three loving children and their spouses, son Marvin Henderson, Jr. and wife Tricia of Clemson, SC; daughters, Jewel Tolan and husband David of Cary, NC; Jean Joiner and husband Bob of Indian Land, SC; son-in-law Dick Hopkins of Myrtle Beach, SC; sister-in-law Joyce Henderson of Franklinton, NC; sister-in-law Darla Kirkley of Baton Rouge, LA; 14 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews and their families. The family would like to thank the caring staff at Aldersgate Retirement Community for their loving care of Mrs. Henderson. An online memorial service celebrating Mrs. Henderson’s life will be held at Hawthorne Lane UMC, hlumc.org, on Sunday, September 13, 2020. A photo remembrance will begin at 2:45 p.m. and the service at 3:00 p.m. Immediately following the service, there will be a private internment of her ashes in the John Garrett Memorial Garden on the church grounds. Memorials may be made to the Hawthorne Lane United Methodist Church, 501 Hawthorne Lane, Charlotte, NC 28204 or online at hlumc.org. Lowe-Neddo Funeral Home of Matthews is serving the family.