Rita Henshaw

Rita Widner Henshaw, 71, of 4429 Stagecoach Road, Albany, GA, died Monday, December 26, 2011 at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital. Funeral services will be held Friday at 1:00 PM at Faith Baptist Church. Rev. Jerry Deans will officiate. Interment will follow in Gordon Cemetery in Early County, GA.

A native of Miller County, GA, born to the late, William Joel Widner and Nellie Mae Gordon Widner, Mrs. Henshaw graduated from Miller County High School in 1959. She worked at Woolworths Department Store in Albany, GA early in her adult life and then married a young Marine and traveled until she returned to Albany in 1990. Mrs. Henshaw was a homemaker and member of Faith Baptist Church. At Faith, she was a member of the Lydia Sunday School Class, a group leader, a member of the decorating committee and served as the social committee chairperson.

Survivors include, her husband, Jeff T. Henshaw of Albany, GA, a daughter and son-in-law, Melissa and Dan Curtis of Jacksonville, FL, a son and daughter-in-law, Steve and Stephanie Henshaw of Albany, GA, three grandchildren, Justin Curtis and Paige Curtis of Jacksonville, FL and Owen Henshaw of Albany, GA, two brothers, Talbert Widner and his wife Carolyn and Irving Widner and his wife, Linda all of Colquitt, GA, two sisters, Evelyn Tomlinson of Albany, GA and Vera Hines of Damascus, GA and a sister-in-law, Betrice Widner of Colquitt, GA. She was preceded in death by her brother, William Widner.

The family will receive friends Thursday from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM at Mathews Funeral Home.