Lillian Lanning Henson

Lillian Lanning Henson passed away at her home on December 13, 2025 at the age of 82.

She was a long-time resident of Knoxville Tennessee and especially well known in the Karns Community. She taught at West and Karns High School for 33 years.

Lillian was born on September 28, 1943 in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee to the late George Marvin and Flora Bedford Lanning. She graduated from MTSU with a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics Education. On August 22, 1964 she married her high school sweetheart, Donald Lee Henson.

Lillian was devoted to her family, Karns High School Basketball, and traveling. You could always find her at her grandchildren’s activities-piano or dance recitals, band concerts, basketball practice or games, or shopping at the mall. If you called her Mom, Lillian, Lilypad, Mimi, Sister or Mrs. Henson, she would always answer with a smile and enjoyed all that life had to offer. Lillian was a loving woman, who enriched the lives of everyone she met. She will be lovingly remembered and dearly missed.

She was preceded in death by her parents George Marvin and Flora Bedford Lanning. Her husband of 56 years: Donald Lee Henson; two brothers: Charles Lanning and George Lanning and three sisters: Joann Appleton, Nancy Crowder, and Peggy Dean.

Lillian is survived by one daughter: Holly Peters (Bart) of Princeton Kentucky. One son: Lee Henson (Brandi) of Knoxville Tennessee. Two sisters: Pat Morgan of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee and Frances Rayfield of Lawrenceburg Tennessee. One Brother: Bob Lanning of Lawrenceburg Tennessee. Four Grandchildren: Lindsey Rose(Aaron) of Elizabethtown Kentucky, Macy Byrd of Princeton Kentucky, Raley Henson of Knoxville Tennessee, and Eden Henson of Knoxville Tennessee. One Great-Granddaughter: Clara Rose of Elizabethtown Kentucky; and several nieces and nephews.

There will be a memorial visitation for Lillian Henson on Friday, December 19, 2025 from 12:00 P.M. until the 1:00 P.M. memorial service hour at Neal Funeral Home in Lawrenceburg, TN.

Expressions of sympathy make take the form of donations to: St Jude Children’s Research Hospital 501 St Jude Place Memphis TN 38105

Or to

The Girls and Boys Club of Knoxville 240 E Baxter Ave. Knoxville TN 37917