Reverend Richard Cecil Hensley, age 88 of Burnsville, NC, passed away peacefully at his home on Monday, January 6, 2025.
Born on July 16, 1936, he was the son of the late Monroe and Hettie Bryant Hensley. In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by his loving wife of 49 years, Mildred Tipton Hensley, and brother, Virgil Hensley.
Our dad, Rev. Cecil Hensley, preached his own funeral with every day he lived. Instead of restating the history of his 88 years, we have chosen to honor him with simple words for a man who lived simply but made a great impact.
True, he spoke truth and lived truth. Faithful, to God’s word. Loyal, to his family and to the Lord. Honorable. Loving. Kind. Humorous, he was known for some practical jokes here and there and he loved telling funny stories from his life.
But above all he was Godly. He was Godly in his church life, personal life, and even in business. He set a shining example of honesty and character for not only his family but for all who knew him. He worked many jobs from paving to factory work at Glen Raven to dairy farming and lastly, furniture making at Henredon. He finally retired to be with his wife and family and grow huge bountiful gardens that he shared with many others. He also loved loading up as much family as he could and spending long days riding the Blue Ridge Parkway, stopping for a picnic meal and to enjoy the beautiful mountains.
He was serving God through his preaching for more than 48 years. Many of those were spent as the pastor of his home church, Patterson Branch Freewill Baptist Church. He traveled to many revivals in churches throughout North Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia where he got to carry God’s word to family there.
Surviving are his sister Virtle English of Prices Creek. Three daughters: Teresa Wheeler, and husband Mike, Tracie Wilson and husband Jeff, and Stacie McBride and husband Roland, all of Burnsville. Grandchildren are Jason Howell, Carissa Howell Parrish, and husband Lance, Katie Howell, Jonathan Wilson and wife, Julie, Celia Wilson Fox, and husband Jeremy, Landon Allen, Michalie Allen, Bianca Allen, and Claire McBride. Great-grandchildren are Jaden Howell, Jackson and Sofia Fox, and Richard and Fiona Parrish; as well as several nieces and nephews. Cecil will be greatly missed by his family and throughout many churches in the days to come.
Funeral services for Cecil will begin with a visitation from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, January 9, 2025, in the Chapel of Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home in Burnsville, NC. The family will receive friends and loved ones during this time. The funeral service will be held the following day at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, January 10, 2025, at Patterson Branch Freewill Baptist Church. Reverends Jim Shoupe and Bill Shoupe will be officiating. The interment will follow in the Howell Cemetery in Burnsville, and Reverend Trent Honeycutt will be officiating.
The family welcomes all friends and loved ones to join them in a meal following the burial in the fellowship hall at Patterson Branch Freewill Baptist Church. The family would also like to say a special thanks to the staff of Compassionate Care of WNC for their support and care.
Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home is respectfully serving the Hensley Family.
To send an online Condolence please visit: www.holcombebrothersfuneralhome.com
