Teresa Sue Henson, 72, of Morganton, NC passed away peacefully on Thursday, August 28, 2025 after a courageous battle with cancer.
Born in Morganton on September 15, 1952, she was the daughter of the late Dalsur “Dan” Auburn Penley and Carrie Lee Suttle Penley. Teresa was raised at the NC Baptist Children’s Home in Thomasville, NC and graduated from Thomasville High School where she was very active in sports. She had a 30-year career in the medical field between Broughton Hospital and Grace Hospital as a phlebotomist. She also served as a referee for Burke County Recreation Sports for 25 years. She was a member of Missionary Ridge Baptist Church and had a deep love for the children’s ministry there.
Surviving is her son Clay Henson and wife, Jessica; grandchildren, Carter, Parker, and Bella Henson; brothers, Roy Penley (Amy), Lewis Penley (Cindy), Richard Penley (Ashley), and Jay Suttles; sisters, Joy Oakley, Sandy Penley, Lou Ann Cranford, and Janet Carswell; the Suttle Family; Albert Suttle (Shelly), Pam Long (Mike), Kim Barclay (Tom), and Tira Duckworth (Shawn); former husband, Wendal Henson, Sr.; as well as her special friends Lori Woody, Joyce Lawson, and Lisa Henson.
The family will receive friends from 2 to 3 p.m., Sunday, August 31, 2025 at Missionary Ridge Baptist Church. The funeral will be held at 3 p.m. in the church with Rev. Darren Browning officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to The Children’s Ministry at Missionary Ridge Baptist Church, 5612 John Watts Road, Morganton, NC 28655.
Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center is assisting the family with the arrangements.
Tribute Wall
Leave a tribute for Teresa Sue Henson.
Our sincere sympathy and prayers go to Teresa’s family and friends. She was in one of my first physical education classes at Thomasville Jr High and was also on the JV basketball team that I coached. She was so special to me as a student , an athlete and a friend. She was so smart, a great athlete and was such a wonderful young lady and student. She spent many of her off campus visits from Mills Home with Jim and me in our home in Thomasville and she and her sister, Sandy, were like our adopted children. I loved it when I was the athletic trainer at Guilford College and her son, Clay, was a great athlete on our basketball team and she saw me at a game and came running over to see me and tell me that her son was on our team and I was thrilled to catch up with her! May she rest in peace and I and her family and friends know that we have an angel watching over us. I love you Teresa❤️ Mary Neal and Jim Broos
I grew up with Teresa and her siblings at Mills Home in Thomasville, NC. They were such a sweet family and we loved them all. Teresa will be missed as our fellow Mills Home sister. Fly high with the angels, Teresa. I have been thinking of all our years together growing up. When you all arrived at Mills Home you all fit right in with the rest of us. We lived as a big extended family together and what a wonderful time it was to meet so many wonderful kids at Mills Home ♥️🙏. R. I. P. ,Teresa. ♥️