Cassandra Ellis Henson

February 5, 1934 - February 23, 2022

Cassandra Ruth Henson, nee Ellis 1934-2022 Sandra, wife, grandmother, great-grandmother, teacher, judge, singer, trivia buff, Chair of Creativity, chocolate lover, and world traveler, who always managed to make it back to her native Memphis. Sandra was born on February 5, 1934, in Memphis, Tennessee, to Wallace Gillespie Ellis and Ruth Bowe Ellis. She was the third of seven children. Sandra graduated from Capleville Elementary School and Whitehaven High School where she was a class officer. She earned a B.A. from Southwestern at Memphis (now Rhodes College) where she sang in the Southwestern Singers was a member of the Delta Delta Delta Sorority. During her summers, she worked as a ranger in Memphis’ Audubon Park. She also earned a Masters from the University of Memphis. After college graduation, she married Jimmy and began her long career in education. She enjoyed working with students of all abilities and taught dozens of children to read in Knoxville, Cincinnati, and St. Louis where her husband earned his degrees. Upon returning to Memphis, Sandra accepted a fifth-grade social studies’ position at Hutchison. Her fifth-grade students fondly remember crowning her as Miss Bicentennial in 1976 during a play that she produced. She was named the first Chair of the Ruthie and Bliss Bowlin Endowment for Creativity at Hutchison in 1996. Sandra also was Director of the Learning Center. She retired from Hutchison in 2000 after 23 years. A true educator, one of her many achievements was bringing Odyssey of the Mind to Tennessee. She led her teams to many regional, state, and world championships, and was State Director of Odyssey of the Mind for many years. Knowing how transformative such activities can be, she was also active in the groups Future Problem Solving and Destination Imagination. She also served as judge and problem captains at the local, state, and international levels. A devout United Methodist, Sandra began teaching Sunday School at age 16. She was active in United Methodist congregations wherever she lived. She sang in the choir and was head of the Stewardship Program. She and Jimmy joined Emmanuel United Methodist Church (EUMC) in the early 70s when they returned to Memphis. There she sang in the choir, served as chair of Ida Virginia Circle, President of United Methodist Women, and was the Lay Leader of EUMC. Sandra was an avid bridge player, cross word puzzler, NPR listener, line dancer, reader, and president of the Kirby Woods Garden Club. She was also the only one we knew who learned how to program her VCR. She taped her favorite shows from Masterpiece Theater to exercise classes to soap operas. Later, she created medleys of children’s television tapes for her grandchildren. Building on her experience on her high school school’s Quiz ‘Em on the Air team, Sandra was a terrific trivia player. Jeopardy was daily must-see TV accompanied by Knowledge Bowl on Saturday mornings. On cruises, fellow travelers quickly recognized her trivia prowess and lobbied to join her team. She always welcomed them. Sandra’s wit was world renowned. Remembering a trip to Cuba as a young girl, she quipped she did not see any pigs in the Bay of Pigs. She found a willing abettor for her word play and travel in her husband. Sandra and Jimmy loved to travel, be it by planes, trains, or automobiles. They especially enjoyed boats, taking 42 cruises, including an epic around-the-world excursion. In their 67 years together, they visited all 50 states and 87 countries. They visited every continent except Antarctica, but always returned home to Memphis. What was her secret for their long and happy marriage? Love, laughter, and not taking anything too seriously. She was always up for any game. In her late 70s, her physician asked how she had injured her leg. She bashfully admitted that she sprained it while sliding down the pole at the Memphis Fire Museum while playing with her grandchildren. Sandra, Mom, Grandmother, Grandmudder, GanGan, GGM, GiGi, saw the good in every person. We always wanted to be the person who she saw us to be. Her life’s philosophy is found in Micah 6:8: to live God’s love through our actions. “Do justice. Live Humbly. Walk humbly with the Lord.” Sandra died peacefully on February 23, 2022, at the age of 88. She will be greatly missed by her husband of 67 years, James C. "Jimmy" Henson of Memphis; her three children, Bryan Henson of Naples, Florida; Blair Henson of Niceville, Florida; and Beth Henson Tudan (Costi) of Vienna, Virginia; six grandchildren, Lee Henson, Clay Henson, Ashley Stewart, Paul Tudan, Alexander Tudan, and Thomas Tudan; two great-grandchildren, Nolan Henson and Brianna Henson; her siblings: Mary Martha Arter, Dr. Bill Ellis (Harriet), Gwyn Fields (Jim), Nat Ellis (Pat), and Morgan Caer-Myrddin, and numerous other family and friends. She is predeceased by her grandson Kohl Henson, her daughter-in-law Tappy Schilling, sister, Dr. Helen Bridger Ellis, and brothers-in-law, Dr. Milt Arter and Steve Taylor.