Emogene “Gene” Heninger, 92, of Fitzgerald, died Friday, July 13, 2018, at the Dublin Place in Dublin, Georgia.
Funeral services will be held 2PM, Tuesday, July 17, 2018, at The Paulk Funeral Home Chapel in Fitzgerald, with the Rev. B.J. Funk officiating. Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home in Fitzgerald.
Mrs. Heninger was born, May 19, 1926, in Moultrie, Georgia to the late Leonard and Willie Hobby Perkins. She graduated with an associates degree from Norman Park College. She was a long-time secretary at Central United Methodist Church. She sang in the choir and was always humming or singing. She was a member of the Bernhardt Singers that routinely visited nursing homes, sharing their music with the residents. She was well known at the Dublin Place for her never-ending singing. She was the President and Chaplain of the American Legion Auxiliary at various times. Mrs. Heninger was also a Chaplain and Historian for United Daughters of the Confederacy. She loved her children and grandchildren dearly as well as her dogs and cats. Mrs. Heninger loved to garden and grow flowers. Her yard was her pride and joy and it was always full of flowers. Mrs. Heninger ran in numerous races as a senior citizen and loved showing off her trophies for her 1st place finishes.
She faced many struggles in her childhood and in her young married life, as the mother of four young children whose husband was confined to a TB Sanitarium for two years. All of these made her a very strong, independent woman.
She is survived by her children and their spouses, Keith Heninger of Stone Mountain, Kent Heninger & Diann of Fitzgerald, Terry Hudson of Dublin, and Cheri Gilleland & John of Lilburn; grandchildren and their spouses, Ginnie Wiggs & Andy, Katy Calhoun & Chris, Kurt Heninger & Danielle, Kaleb Heninger & Ansley, Shawn Manning & Brett, Brandy Bassett & John, Ryan Gilleland & Christy, Lydia Stanfill & Damian, and Erin Gilleland; step-grandchildren, Michelle Joiner & Brian, Michael Clark & Ashley, and Angella Krause & Kyle; 17 great-grandchildren as well as two on the way. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Ronald Keith Heninger; brothers, Junior Perkins, Leon Perkins, and Ben Perkins, and two sisters, Ouida Hudson and Willyne Perkins.
The family suggests those desiring to send memorials, may mail them to Central United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 428 Fitzgerald, Georgia 31750 or to Fitzgerald- Ben Hill County Humane Society, 106 Lions Park Road, Fitzgerald, Georgia, 31750.