Mary Roberta (Hensley) Nelson

Mary Hensley Nelson, age 88 of Burnsville, NC went Home to be with the Lord on Monday, January 8, 2024. Mary was born on May 27, 1935, in Burnsville, NC at her Granddaddy’s house (Plato Marion Banks). She was the daughter of the late Kenneth J. and Nell Banks Hensley.

After graduating from Appalachian State Teachers College (now ASU) in 1957, she worked for the North Carolina Extension Service as an agent in Murphy and Sylva; dietician for the college in Boone; and a pre-k teacher in Waynesville. Mary was a very giving person and a wonderful daughter, sister, wife, mother, mother-in-law, and friend. After she and her husband, John, retired, they returned to Burnsville. She was very active in her church (The Ugly Quilt Group) and volunteered many years with hospice. She baked birthday cakes for the patients for 21 years.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Robert John Nelson; infant daughter, Mary Ann; and brother, Douglas Hensley.

Surviving are her daughter and son-in-law, Lynn and Joey Lindsay of Morganton and her loving companion and granddog, Hunter.

The family would like to say a special thanks for the wonderful care and love she received from Hospice, especially Anita, Kim, and Beth.

A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 20, 2024, at Pensacola United Methodist Church at 9255 Highway 197 South, Burnsville, NC. Rev. Kent Smith, Rev. Joe Bennett, and Rev. Ann Hoyt will be officiating. The service will be livestreamed via zoom. Please follow the link to participate online - Celebration of Life for Mary Nelson at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85927655986?pwd=RU9WdG9XSHB0QnFIMGNKcWwwMHNtUT09  

A service of committal will be held at a later date at the Banks Family Cemetery in Burnsville, NC.

Memorials may be made to Compassionate Care of Western North Carolina at 856 Georges Fork Rd., Burnsville, NC 28714; as well as the Banks Family Cemetery Fund (donations may be sent to Wesley Hensley at 207 Pine Swamp Rd., Burnsville, NC 28714); or to Pensacola United Methodist Church, PO Box 794, Burnsville, NC 28714. The family requests no flowers at this time.

Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home is respectfully serving the Nelson family.

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