Sarah Lou Henley

    Funeral services for Sarah Lou Henley, 92, of Lamesa, will be held Saturday, September 21st, at 2:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church with Reverend Jim Medley officiating. Interment will follow at Dawson County Cemetery. 
    Arrangements are under the direction of Branon Funeral Home. 
    Visitation will be held Friday, September 20, 2019 at Branon Funeral Home from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. 
    Sarah Lou passed away Saturday, September 14, 2019 in Lamesa, Texas. 
    Sarah Lou Henley was born in Loraine, Texas, April 30, 1927. She was the first child of John B. Henley and Jimmie Hester (Amason) Henley.
    In 1931 the family, including Sarah Lou and brother J.B., moved to Scurry County, Texas, where brother Jimmie and her sister Annie May were born. In those early years, for Sarah Lou, the highlight of the week was attending church at First Baptist Church, Snyder. 
    With a move to Dawson County in 1942, her mother became an English teacher at Klondike High School. Her father resumed bakery work spending many years at the Farmer’s Bakery in Lamesa.
    Sarah Lou graduated from Klondike High school in 1944. The unifying factor that guided much of her life was “being on mission for Christ.” Contributing to that goal were degrees from Hardin Simmons University in 1949 and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1953 with teaching  experience after each. 
    Appointment to service in Nigeria in 1955 included teaching at Elam Girls School in Shaki, Nigeria, and Baptist Girls’ High School, Agbor, Nigeria. Returning to the states in 1971, she taught many years in Texas, most of them in Lamesa.
    Retirement offered opportunities of service through various activities at First Baptist Church. She also was active in delivering “Meals on Wheels” for the Senior Citizens. For many years, she became a tutor of women who were striving to learn English through the Dawson County Library and the Christian Women’s Job Corp.
    Sarah Lou was preceded in death by her parents and brothers, J.B. Henley, Jr. and Jimmie T. Henley; Disa Payson (great niece), and Richard Burt (brother-in law). Survivors are her sister, Annie May (Henley) Burt, Mary Jane Henley (sister-in law); nephews, Keith Burt, Timothy Burt, Robert Henley and David Harrison; and nieces, Joy Payson and husband, Steve, Nancy Henley, and Sarah Kelly.
    Sarah Lou thanked the Lord for his many blessings and opportunities.
    Family suggests memorials to First Baptist Church, (especially support for missions), 801 S. 1st, Lamesa, TX 79331 or a charity of your choice. 
    To send condolences online, please visit www.branonfuneralhome.com.
– Press-Reporter obituary services