Lorraine Tate Hensley

Lorraine Tate Hensley

Lorraine Tate Hensley, 86, of Stafford, Virginia, passed away on February 21, 2022. Lorraine was proceeded in death by her mother and father, Ola Ruth Slagle Tate, and John Green Tate; and her sister, Sudartha (Dottie) Tate Vann. She is survived by her husband of 64 years, Carl W. Hensley, 92; her sister, Deloris Tate Pullum; her son, Derrick Hensley; her daughter, Angela Hensley and son-in-law, Doug McDaniel; granddaughters, Summer and Reese Hensley; grandsons, Carl and Wesley Lay; and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Lorraine was born in Smyth County, Virginia. She lived in Marion and Radford, Virginia before her family moved to Oak Ridge, Tennessee where she graduated with honors from Oak Ridge High School in 1954.

Lorraine attended the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, where she graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in business.

After college graduation in 1958, Lorraine worked at Union Carbide in Oak Ridge.

At eighteen, Lorraine met the only love of her life, Carl Hensley, while both were attending a football game. After four years, they married in 1957 and settled in east Tennessee.

In 1962, Carl and Lorraine moved to Springfield, Virginia for a teaching and coaching job with the rapidly growing Fairfax County Public Schools. Angela was born in 1963 and Derrick in 1965. After their births, Lorraine began her time raising her children and focusing on family. Carl and Lorraine worked as full partners in several successful business ventures, including rental real estate, but Lorraine did not return to full-time work outside of her family until Derrick started college. Lorraine began temping, updated her education to include computer skills, and began a second career with Alexandria Hospital Foundation. After a twenty-year career at Alexandria Hospital, Lorraine received the Julia Johns Award of Distinction in 2008, an award to recognize and honor individuals who embody the same spirit as the hospital founder and who have made a notable contribution for advancing health care for the Alexandria community.

Lorraine's hobbies included reading, crossword puzzles, Sudoku, running, exercise, boating, water skiing (in her 70s!), working in the yard, and spending time with her family. She was a flawless, detailed statistician for all her husband, Carl's, basketball teams, only taking a break from her stat keeping when her son, Derrick, played basketball for his dad.

Lorraine was the silent strength behind her family and everything they did. She preferred to stay behind-the-scenes, but her presence and support were strong and unwavering. The song "Wind Beneath My Wings" aptly conveys the strength and support she gave to Carl, Angela, and Derrick.

Although Carl was the love of her life and her devotion to her family was immeasurable, Lorraine did have one other lifetime love – ice cream. Her family knows they were number one, but ice cream was a close second.

The family will have a private interment for Lorraine and a public celebration of life that will be scheduled and announced later.

In lieu of flowers or donations, the family requests that you enjoy a bowl of ice cream in Lorraine's honor. Anything with peanut butter and chocolate were especially her favorites. To make your ice cream salute to Lorraine as realistic as possible, please don't leave one drop in the bottom of the bowl!

Carl, Angela, and Derrick would like to thank all their family and friends for their love and support.