Wilson Kelly Henson

Wilson “Kelly” Henson, born August 26, 1937 in Dyer County, Tennessee, to Woodrow Wilson “Bill” and Darris Mae Estes Henson, passed away on Friday, March 29, 2024, at 86 years of age.  He was a member of First Baptist Church Covington, and a loving father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.  

He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Sharon and Jesse Carpenter of Mason, Tennessee; two brothers, Herbert and Sequoia Henson of Memphis, and Tony and Sue Henson of Hornbeak; two sisters, Wilma and Larry Smith of Hornbeak, and Brenda Mason of Covington; six grandchildren, Jacob and Becky Carpenter of Clinton, Mississippi, Jordan and Emily Carpenter of Dacula, Georgia, and Kinsey and Rex Gorman of Monroe, Washington; eight great-grandchildren, Eliza Carpenter, Benson Carpenter,  Naomi Gorman, Ruthie Carpenter, Judah Carpenter, Phoebe Gorman, Sylvie Carpenter and John Carpenter, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Kelly was predeceased by his parents; his wife of 62 years, Bonnie Ann Giddens Henson; one brother, William Henson; his sister-in-law, Christine Henson, and brother-in-law, Kenneth Mason.

Kelly joined the Air Force in 1955, attaining the rank of Master Sergeant and retired in 1975 after a 20 year career.  He was stationed in numerous locations including Texas, Illinois, Florida, Virginia, Alaska, California and the Philippines.

Funeral Services for Mr. Wilson “Kelly” Henson will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, April 11, 2024 at Covington Funeral Home. Visitation for friends and family will be from 9 a.m. until service time in the chapel. Interment with full military honors in West Tennessee Veteran’s Cemetery in Memphis will follow at 1 p.m. on Thursday. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Operation Heal Our Patriots