Rev. Ralph R. Hensley Sr.

Asheville - Rev. Ralph Randolph Hensley, Sr., 84, died Wednesday August 28, 2002 at St. Josephs Hospital after an extended illness. A native of Buncombe County, he had served as a Baptist Minister in Kentucky and several churches in NC before returning to Buncombe County in 1962. He was a member of Beverly Hills Baptist Church, a graduate of Lee Edwards High School, Wake Forest College and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. He was ordained as a minister on August 23, 1939 at Asheville First Baptist Church and became the first minister at Starnes Cove Baptist Church. Rev. Hensley was a son of the late W.R. and Jay Hensley. He was also preceded in death by 2 sisters and 1 brother. Surviving are his wife of 61 years, Frances Gregg Hensley of the home; sons, Randy Hensley of Dunedin, FL, Mike Hensley of Wake Forest and Morris Hensley of Safety Harbor, FL; 3 grandchildren and 1 great grandson. Graveside service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday at Forest Lawn Memorial Park with the Rev. Tim Lolley officiating. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Friday at Anders-Rice Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to: WNC Baptist Home, 213 Richmond Hill Drive, Asheville, NC 28806.