M.J. "Jay" Hensley

M.J. “Jay” Hensley was born on August 9, 1937, at St. Michael’s Hospital in Texarkana, Arkansas to Lola Townsend Hensley and Edward Hensley. He grew up in Garland County with his six siblings, and although life was hard, sharecropping and picking cotton, he excelled in school, both in academics and athletics, especially in basketball and track. Even when he couldn’t afford sneakers, he played and played well, all the while pumping gas at a Texaco Station to help support the family.

He attended Magnolia College (Now Southern Ark. University), focusing on engineering. Eventually he hitch-hiked to the University of Arkansas to earn a BS in Civil Engineering, working as a handyman on campus; during this time, he was still hitchhiking his way back to Texarkana to see his family whenever he could. His college education was briefly interrupted when his enrollment in the National Guard called him to participate in the historic reinforcement of Integration during the Little Rock Central High School Crisis of 1957. After completing his obligation, he worked for the Corps of Engineers for several years.

M.J. worked for the Arkansas Highway Department in Little Rock, where he met and married Wilma Dutton of Huntsville, Arkansas. They were married for 63 years. After working for the Highway Department, he furthered his career with the Asphalt Institute, working his way up to Senior District Engineer, becoming an innovator and educator of Asphalt Mix Design that became incorporated into the highways, railroads, and airport runways all over the country. He traveled as far as Belarus, Russia, and nearly all 50 states, being sought out for consultation. He even worked with former Razorback coach, Frank Broyles, on the asphalt underlay of the Razorback Stadium during the 1960’s.

M.J. was a lifelong Methodist, and served the First United Methodist Church of North Little Rock as a trustee and Sunday school teacher, among other positions. He was originally a charter member with Wilma at Indian Hills United Methodist, meeting in a trailer which would eventually become the First United Methodist Church of North Little Rock. He was a member of the Pea Ridge United Methodist Church for twenty years.

He greatly enjoyed being a Razorback fan, along with fishing, hunting, camping, gardening, spending time with his family and grandkids, and always visiting those who were sick, lost a loved one, or anyone who just needed one of his smoked chickens for comfort. After retiring from the Asphalt Institute, he did consultant work, and was then privileged to serve on the Pea Ridge Planning Commission.

He is survived by: his wife, Wilma Hensley; daughter, Rebecca Efurd (Carlton); sons, Greg Hensley (Zaina), and John Hensley (John McKeone).

Surviving siblings include: Kenneth Hensley (Barbara), Guindolyn Prestidge; sisters-in-law, Ann Hensley, Anna Hensley, Joy Dutton Leopard, Dollie Dutton, and Betty Dutton; brothers-in-law, Larry Dutton, Lonnie Dutton, and Vernie Dutton.

Grandchildren include Courtney Efurd-Bryant (Powell), Cameron Efurd (Dominique Scott Efurd), Emily Efurd (Connor Austin), and Samuel Ramirez Hensley. He was also blessed with three great-grandchildren, Hensley, Miles, and Barry Bryant.

Memorial donations can be made to the Pea Ridge United Methodist Church or the charity of your choice, in M.J.’s honor.

Following the graveside service, a luncheon will be served to all in the Fellowship Hall at Pea Ridge United Methodist Church. If you elect not to go to the Burial, feel free to congregate in the Fellowship Hall.