Lisa Hensley

Lisa Marguerite Hensley crossed the Rainbow Bridge on Friday, August 8,2025, where she was reunited with all her four-legged furry friends who preceded her. Lisa was 61, having been born to Nora S. and Simmie E. Hensley on February 14, 1964. 

She was preceded in death by her father and her Grandmother Nora Spenceley Dawson. Surviving her passing are her mother, Nora S. Suddarth, her Stepfather, Larry T. Suddarth; her Sisters Rainham Hensley-Rowe and Tara A. Betz; along with Nephews Robert (Robbie) Rowe Jr. & Sean-Thomas Rowe; and Nieces Antara (Ann) Rowe & Emma Betz. Lisa was a beautiful person inside and out, who found joy in helping others. 

After serving in the Navy, attaining a rank of Petty Officer 2nd Class- Yeoman, Lisa earned her master's degree in psychology. She started working with troubled youth in the Oak Harbor region of Washington State with Job Corps. She helped train young people who were in the court system and helped them get back on track with their lives.

After twenty-eight years in Washington state, Lisa felt the pull to return home to her roots in Charlottesville. It was here she began working as a probation/parole officer and later became a Case Manager for the regional jail. At the jail Lisa made a positive impact on the lives of the incarcerated individuals by starting a training program for them. Through her work, Lisa made a huge difference in the lives of the many people she assisted.

Lisa's love for helping others was not limited to just people. She also loved animals and all through her life she fostered wildlife and domestic animals. As a girl she fostered multiple, orphaned baby possums for the Charlottesville SPCA, where she also volunteered in the shelter helping with the adoption animals. While in Oak Harbor she was commended for trapping 100's of feral cats, getting them fixed and releasing them back to the barns she'd found them. Her work helped greatly reduce the number of feral cats on Whidbey Island.

Locally, Lisa volunteered with the Cat Action Team fostering cats and kittens. She helped foster countless kittens and their mothers, finding them loving, safe homes, even if that home ended up being her own. She was a foster failure with more than a few cats.

No services will be held for Lisa, to respect her private nature. If you wish to honor Lisa's life a donation to the Cat Action Team, or your favorite animal shelter or rescue, would have made her very happy.