Violet Geneva Young Henson, age 96 of Burnsville, NC, went Home to be with her Lord and savior on Friday, May 16, 2025, at her home, surrounded by her family. Born on February 4, 1929, she was the daughter of the late Geter and Selelia Young. In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by her loving husband of 74 years, Jake “Willie J” Henson; brothers: Alphonus Young, and J.R. Young; sisters: Oridea Roland, Kitty Smith, and Pat Watkins; sons: William Jeter Henson, and Shane Henson; as well as her daughter, Wilma Henson.
As proprieter of Nanny’s Kitchen alongside her daughter, Wilma, she loved to prepare food for family, friends, and community alike. It was a particular joy to cater the meals for fundraisers for the Yancey County Library. She loved knowing that they had plenty to eat and that they enjoyed it. She enjoyed reading books and doing crossword puzzles. She liked tending to her garden, watching it grow, and canning its yield. Violet liked being outdoors and enjoyed long summer days spent fishing with her family. Above all, she loved spending time with her family, and she cherished each and every one of them dearly.
Left to cherish her memory are her sons, Walter (Charleen) Henson, and Melvin Henson; daughters: Jeanette Henson, Vickie Young, and Cathy Henson; her brother, John Beacher Griffith; fifteen grandchildren, thirty-seven great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 22nd, 2025, in the Chapel of Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home. The family will receive friends and loved ones one hour prior to the service for visitation. Rev. Cathy Henson will be officiating. Interment will follow the service in the Horton Hill Cemetery in Burnsville, NC.
The family requests that if donations are made in Violet’s honor, that they are made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital at 262 Danny Thomas Pl, Memphis, TN 38105; or to Compassionate Care Hospice of WNC at 856 Georges Fork Rd, Burnsville, NC 28714. Flower donations are also accepted and appreciated.
Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home is respectfully serving the Henson family.
