Lily Faye Chesney Henley, of Little Rock, was born May 20, 1949, to Earl and Ella Chesney. Her father was a farmer who was also a logger. Her mother worked at the shirt factory and cared for the home and children. The oldest child was Purvis Chesney, who died in a tragic accident at the age of 28, in 1966. Two sisters, Mabel Holdiness of Louisville and Bertie McElhenney of Union, were the middle children. The babies of the family, Faye was a twin to her sister Mae Ursy, who lives in Hickory.
Faye attended Beulah-Hubbard schools, with fond memories of playing as a child in the woods at recess, climbing trees and having a good time. In high school, the highlights of the week were the football game and the band. The Rebels won some championships, she recalled. She became a bride at the end of her tenth grade year in 1966, remaining in high school, and graduating in 1968. Mr. M.L. Henley Jr. had already graduated from Hickory High School in 1965. He worked at La-Z-Boy before he got into law enforcement, becoming a parole officer, now retired.
Their children came along in the seventies, with Linda Faye being born Aug. 9, 1970, Millard Henley III, Sept. 3, 1974, and Michelle coming along Sept. 26, 1977, right before the divorce in November of 1977. Faye told me, “I had two goals: One, that each of my three children—that the Lord would give me strength to raise them to all be saved; two, that I’d be able to help them get an education, to make something of themselves and contribute to society. God helped me do that. I have two in Heaven and Michelle is saved.”
She worked at La-Z-Boy all those years, raising the children. She reminisced, “They were the joy of my life. I thoroughly enjoyed raising them. We were so close. I would go to their ball games, and they all three graduated from Newton County High School.”
Linda went the East Central, then attended the University of Southern Mississippi for one year, before graduating from Mississippi College. She became a third-grade teacher at Newton County Elementary School, where she taught for 13 years. Jeff Hitt of Union became her husband July 8, 1995. He became the work coordinator for East Central Community College. Their child Gillian (Gigi) was born May 16, 2000.
When Gigi was three, Jeff was out jogging when his heart stopped beating. He was kept alive a few days before the decision had to be made to take him off the ventilator. He died Aug. 15, 2003, at the age of 31. Faye said of Jeff, “He was just too perfect for this old mean world. He was just a wonderful husband and father. He adored Gigi. So precious. He was so good to me.”
She continued, “All three of my children were saved, baptized and married in Hickory Baptist Church. That Wednesday night, I was sitting in church, just having my own praise time. All was well. The next morning they called me to go to the ER. But the Lord has always been there for me.”
Then in February 2007, Gigi, almost seven, was in a pageant. All the family came that Saturday. Linda and Gigi went down to East Central to practice on the stage. They were alone. Linda suddenly collapsed. Gigi got her mother’s phone, found Faye’s name, and called, sobbing. After calling for the ambulance, the family raced to get Gigi and go to Laird’s hospital. An aneurism had burst in Linda’s head. Though Faye prayed all night, after they carried her to University Hospital in Jackson, she said, “It just wasn’t His will.” After two more brain scans in the morning, doctors assured them there was no hope. She died Feb. 11, 2007, at the age of 36. Faye takes comfort from the fact that both Jeff and Linda were organ donors.
In 2009, Faye’s son, Millard, was diagnosed with a brain tumor. He died June 6, 2010, also at the age of 36. Faye said, “He had always been very protective of me.” When Millard died, he had just celebrated his tenth anniversary with the Department of Defense. He and his wife, Amy Berry of Panama City, FL, had been married since Aug. 28, 1999.
Faye’s third child, Michelle, married Judd Brewer, from Lincoln, NE, June 20, 2001. Judd’s friend, a professor, moved to the south to teach at the University of Southern Mississippi and to play golf year-round. Judd came down to Hattiesburg to help them move. He happened to be with the friend and his wife when they went to Turtle Creek Mall to shop. Michelle was working at the Este Lauder counter where the friend’s wife bought some makeup. She noticed how Michelle and Judd were eyeing each other, and sent Judd back to get the makeup. As they say, “The rest is history.” Judd and Michelle have added to the family two adorable children, Colby, born Aug. 9, 2006, and Milly, born April 18, 2011. Judd is running Shadow Ridge Golf Course, while Michelle teaches at Sumrall Elementary School.
As most of us here in Decatur know, Faye took Gigi in as her own. Gigi graduated in 2018 from Newton County Academy and is in her second year at East Central Community College. She plans to finish at Mississippi State and become a teacher, following her mother Linda and Aunt Michelle.
Faye gladly told me her “salvation story.” “My mother never drove a car in her life. My father never went to church, but he took us. It was a revival. I was young, maybe 8- or 10-years old. I walked down. I thought I was saved. Later, when I got older, my cousin Rev. Lynn Chesney was preaching in Little Rock Baptist Church, about hell. I visualized hell, and I didn’t want to go. I realized that, if I didn’t accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, when I died, I would go to hell. There really is a hell, just as much as there is a heaven. That’s why I always wanted to make sure my precious children and grandchildren got saved.” (Later, in his old age, her father was saved and baptized.)
She told me of a short period, later in life, when she was assailed with doubts about her salvation. She prayed and asked for peace and reassurance. At her machine, at La-Z-Boy, she recalled, “All of a sudden, I heard a loud noise like the Trumpet,” making her think of the Rapture, “but I wasn’t scared. A peace came over me, and I never doubted it since then, not one time!”
After her three children were married, Faye had to undergo shoulder surgery, a knee surgery, and finally, in 2016, breast cancer surgery, chemo and radiation. She is thankful to have survived, with no more cancer. She thought the Lord would take her home, as her prayers are for the children to be on their own. However, God surprised her when, after one of the surgeries, she woke up expecting to be in heaven, only to discover He had left her here. He left her here to enjoy her remaining child and grandchildren, and I could easily detect her gratitude and joy.
Live for Jesus! He’s coming soon!
You may contact me at lagnesrussell@gmail.com or 601-635-3282.
