Elizabeth "Beth" Bean Henderson

Rev. Elizabeth "Beth" Bean Henderson, 82, of Edgewood Ave, Morganton, NC, died Monday, May 21, 2007 at Grace Heights Nursing Center following a period of declining health. Born in Burke County, NC, on August 27, 1924, she was the daughter of the late Walter E. Bean and Martha Whisenant Bean. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Rev. Lawson P. Henderson; a brother, Rev. Ed Bean; and a sister, Katherine Vines.Beth was a devoted pastor’s wife. She worked for many years as office manager with Burke County Civil Defense and served as a volunteer with many community organizations. She was ordained as a deacon in 1989 with the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church and was admitted as associate member to the conference that same year. Beth served as pastor of many United Methodist churches including Deerfield in Boone, Fairview, Mountain Grove, Arney’s Chapel, Linville, Zion Memorial, Mt. Pleasant, and as associate pastor at Salem.Mrs. Henderson is survived by her sisters, Ruth Curtis and Bessie Curtis both of Morganton; a half-sister, Elvie Herron of Valdese, NC; sisters-in-law, Peggy Bean of Morganton and Barbara Henderson Thomas of Texas; a number of nieces and nephews; a special nephew, Jimmy Henderson Padgett of Cleveland, NC; and a special friend, Lena Cloninger of Morganton.The funeral will be held at 4:00 p.m., Thursday, May 24, 2007 at Salem United Methodist Church with Reverends Donald Freshour, David Bean, Steve Curtis, and Bubba Rose officiating. Burial will follow at El Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends Wednesday evening from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. at Sossoman Funeral Home and on Thursday afternoon from 2:30 until 4:00 p.m. at Salem United Methodist Church. Memorial contributions may be made to a church or charity of one’s choice