Tom Hensley

Tom, Papa, or “The Golden Goose”, was an incredibly loving and dedicated husband, father, grandfather, and son, a committed and selfless volunteer in the community, and a fierce lobbyist for over 60 years.

Tom was born in Jackson, TN on June 30, 1942 to Martha Thomas Hensley and Phares Pope Hensley. After leaving high school in 1959 at age 17, Tom made his way to Nashville, and began working the hospitality suite for state legislators at the Hermitage Hotel. Here, his incredible work ethic and personality quickly caught people’s attention, including the love of his life, Dianne, whom he met in the hotel elevator. Tom spent over 60 years on Capitol Hill as a lobbyist for the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of TN, among other groups, but his heart and soul were always in West Tennessee. Tom and Dianne raised their 3 daughters Michelle, Lesa, and Susan in Jackson, and continued to live there primarily, until just a few years ago, when they moved to Sugar Tree, TN to live full time on their beloved farm, with their dogs, horses, and whatever wildlife might stumble onto the property.

Papa was an outdoorsman at heart, spending much of his life in a duck blind, chasing rabbits with his beagles, or roaming his farm. This passion led him to serve 18 years as a Commissioner of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. Due to his many years of service to the Volunteer State, Tom received the Tennessee Wildlife Federation’s Conservation Achievement Award in 1992, given to those making outstanding contributions to our state’s wildlife & natural resources. He also received the Z. Cartter Patten Award from the Tennessee Wildlife Federation for lifetime conservation achievement in 2015. Tom was a servant at heart, spending his entire adult life helping the community around him. He was a member of the Jackson Jaycees, Exchange Club, President of Woodlawn Shores Volunteer Fire Department, President and Commissioner of the Jackson Madison County Community Economic Development Commission, board member for the Miss America Pageant, and Executive Director, President and CEO of the Miss Tennessee Scholarship Pageant, his enduring legacy. Due to his many outstanding years of service to the Miss America Organization, he became the first person inducted into the Miss America Academy of Honor, in 1996. He began volunteering with the Miss Tennessee Pageant in 1957, and served in various executive roles, beginning in the 1960s. The Pageant meant the world to Tom, as his best friend Jimmy Exum produced the show, and mother, wife and children all volunteered for the Pageant through the years. Throughout his years of leadership, Tom’s main goal for the pageant, was to enable and empower young women to pursue education through the scholarship foundation. Under his guidance, the pageant was able to award millions of scholarship dollars to accomplish that goal.

Many knew the public persona that Tom carried, donning his famous 3-piece suit through the halls of Capitol Hill or the Carl Perkins Civic Center, but the family man that he was, truly made him one-of-a-kind. He spent his entire life going out of his way to make his family happy. This included countless hours to make his and Dianne’s Jackson home and farm house the single most loving, welcoming, entertaining, and enjoyable place for all family and friends that walked through the door. When you were with Tom and Dianne, the rest of the world didn’t exist. You were at Camp Nana and Papa, the best place on Earth.

Tom is survived by his wife Dianne of Sugar Tree, his children Michelle Evans (Jimmy) of Nashville, Lesa Lyday of Brentwood, and Susan Nanney (Joe) of Sugar Tree; his grandchildren Jake and Ben Evans, Phares Gregg, Isabelle Barber and Hensley Lyday. He is preceded in death by his parents Martha Thomas Hensley and Phares Pope Hensley.

Serving as pallbearers are Jimmy Evans, Jake Evans, Ben Evans, Jimmy Exum, John Bond, Clifft Sykes, Ryan Haynes, and John New.

Honorary pallbearers are Jerry Smith, Jube Ashworth, Robert Lipman, Jack Aaron, Seth Eskind, Don White, “The Tribe” (Nelson Biddle, Bob Boles, Chris Lyell, John Lyell, John New, Bill Williams), and the Volunteer Firefighters of Woodlawn Shores.

George A. Smith & Sons Funeral Home, 2812 N. Highland, Jackson, TN is responsible for arrangements. Visitation will be held on Thursday, February 2nd, from 4-7 p.m. A memorial service will be held Friday, February 3, at 11 a.m. in the chapel of the funeral home, with visitation before at 10 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to St. Jude, The Emma Elizabeth Cruse Foundation for the Arts in Decatur County, or a charity of your choice.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.GeorgeASmithandSons.com for the Hensley family.