Elizabeth Kay Henson

July 28, 1931 – December 24, 2022

Kay was a life-long resident of Manatee County, She graduated from Manatee High School and Florida State University and taught second grade at Palmetto Elementary until her retirement. Kay was an active member of First Baptist Church of Palmetto.

To her grandchildren and great-grandchildren she was “Mimi Kay” and she delighted in her relationship with each of them. She encouraged them as they pursued academic, artistic, athletic and musical endeavors. In recent years during the pandemic, she worked with her elementary aged great-grandchildren to help them with their reading skills. Her home was always open for family gatherings.

Kay was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Emma Whisenant, her husband of seventy years, Worth Henson, Jr., her brother, Blake Whisenant and sister, Sally Bustle. She is survived by her sisters, Joyce McCook and Phyllis White (Dick) and her daughters, Karan Rains (John), Kathy Robey (Bill) and Kristy Jones (Rod). In addition, she has eight grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.

The family will receive friends on Friday, December 30, 2022 at 10:00 followed by a Celebration of Life Service at 11:00 at Groover Funeral Home in Ellenton. In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions to First Baptist Church, 1021 Fifth Street, West, Palmetto, Florida 34221.