Alicia Hensley Anderson

Alicia, 60, passed away early Saturday, December 3, 2016 at CMC Pineville, in the arms of her husband Jim. Born January 18, 1956 in Huntington, WV, she was the daughter of O. Avilea Hensley. She moved to Charlotte with her mother at age 7 and stayed a lifelong Charlotte resident.

Shortly after her arrival, she made friends with Jacki Eaton, her lifelong BFF. Following graduation from Myers Park High School, she enrolled at CPCC, obtained her nursing associate degree and became an RN. Her early professional career was spent in surgical nursing and pediatric endocrinology. She obtained her BSN and MSN from Queens University. She found her passion for teaching first as a diabetes educator and then as a nursing educator at Mercy School of Nursing, joining the faculty there in 2001. She taught at MSON until its closing. She considered teaching at MSON her calling and was passionate about helping the students there become skilled, compassionate nurses.

The other joy in her life was her two children, to whom she was very devoted. She also enjoyed being a dance mom, boating, traveling, cooking, knitting, smocking and her Shih Tzu Carson.

She is survived by her husband James R Anderson and her mother Avilea Hensely of Charlotte, son Keith E Whitener Jr of Alexandria, VA (Rachel), daughter Caitlin B Whitener of New York City, beloved granddaughter Avilea Whitener, her uncle James Washington of Huntington, whom she considered her “dad”, his wife Carolyn and their sons David, Timmy and Mark. She is also survived by her BFF Jacki Smith and Carson.

She had her own unique style that came through in everything she did, whether decorating her home, cooking awesome gourmet meals or making the best Bloody Mary on Lake Norman.

The family will have an informal visitation 4 to 6 PM Saturday, December 10th at McEwen Funeral Home (Pineville) 10500 Park Road in Charlotte.

A private scattering of her ashes at the Carolina coast will be at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to STFBR of St Mary’s, Georgia.

“We will never meet again in this lifetime so let me say as we part so much of me is made of what I learned from you. You’ll be with me like a handprint on my heart.” – from her favorite musical, Wicked.

Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.mcewenpinevillechapel.com