Adele Pfrimmer Hensley departed this life Friday, September 30 after a long battle against Parkinson's Disease. Adele was a proud mama, singer, educator, scientist, professor, poet, author, storyteller, cyclist, voracious reader, artist, and illustrator. When she was diagnosed with Young-onset Parkinson's Disease she discovered a lack of books for children of YOPD parents. She filled that gap with books for kids about diagnosis, brain surgery, and facing fear. Her battle against Parkinsons became her muse for a volume of poetry about living with the daily challenges. In addition to her artistic endeavors, she got violent with Parkinson's, earning her Black Belt in Taekwondo. And when Parkinson's got the upper hand, she courageously faced two brain surgeries to fight back.

Hensley earned her bachelor's degree from Baylor University, where she won membership in the prestigious academic society Phi Beta Kappa, and where she published a scientific paper about bats. She earned a master's degree at the University of Florida with a thesis on environmental estrogens. She was awarded a Claire Boothe Luce Fellowship at Duke University where she pursued a PhD in Zoology until the early stages of Parkinsons set in. She pursued dual careers teaching music to children and doing science education for all ages. She taught music at the Duke School for Children, as an employee and volunteer at Methodist and Presbyterian churches, and with Music Together in Phoenix. As a science instructor she taught college-level biology, botany, and physiology, but also worked as an educator for the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, the Arizona Game and Fish Department and the Phoenix Zoo. When Parkinsons took so much of her voice that she could no longer teach, she applied her education background at the Presbytery of Chicago where she served as the librarian to more than 100 churches.

She was a member of First United Methodist Church of Clinton, and Parkinson's Dance of Jackson. She was a regular volunteer at the Methodist Children's Home until Parkinson's and a pandemic took that from her. Parkinson's Disease took many things from Adele, but it could not take her determination, fight, and spirit. She was also a great friend who loved to sing, bake, laugh, play in trombone choirs, and who had a ready smile for everyone. If you knew her before Parkinsons took hold, you'd know her powerful alto singing voice and her unbridled laugh that filled any size room.

Adele is survived by her loving and devoted husband Frank Hensley and wonderful son Clark Hensley, parents Robert and Faith Pfrimmer, sisters Amy Pfrimmer (Gregory Miller) and Anne Pfrimmer, brother Andy Pfrimmer, and in-laws Roy and Nancy Hensley, and Celest Hensley Puls (Ken Puls).

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial gifts be sent either to the Neuroscience Innovation Fund at Ochsner Health, to the Methodist Children's Home, 805 North Flag Chapel Road, Jackson, MS 39209, or the environmental conservation fund of your choice.

Funeral services will be held Saturday October 8 at 1:00 PM at First United Methodist Church in Clinton, in the Connections Worship Center. Visitation with the family will be at the same location at 11:30 AM.