JoAnn Cumi Henderson

JoAnn Cumi Henderson, 88, formerly of Macon County North Carolina passed away in Greer, South Carolina on Sunday, September 27, 2026 at Manning Square Assisted Living.

Born in Macon County, North Carolina on November 11, 1937, she was a daughter of the late Adeline Elizabeth (Teague) Henderson and Lester Calhoun Henderson.

After she graduated from college and obtained her degree in teaching she then went on to teach in the Macon County School System until her retirement. A job she truly loved and took great pride in.

Her love and devotion to family and friends was unmatched. She was a loving mother who served both roles of mother and father to her children. She provided endless time caring for her parents and her siblings as their health faded. To her, family was not bound by the constraints of blood—if she knew you and loved you, you were family.

That caring and love reached far and wide, to anyone who needed a friend, a helping hand, or just someone to be there. So many children from her family and the community were welcomed into her home, shown love and care, and made to feel important and valuable. You never knew who she might invite to her table to eat, deliver food to, or visit because they were lonely. She was the kind of person who would buy a prom dress for a child who otherwise would not get one, help someone find a job, or pay a bill for a neighbor in need.

Her gift of caregiving was not limited to people; so many animals enjoyed the love and

comfort of her care, from farm animals, dogs, and cats to local wildlife. All life was special to her. She believed in living honestly, being kind, and working hard—all of which she devoted her life to. She will always be remembered as the strong woman who weathered the storms of life with grace and kindness, and who held firm in her love and devotion to her family and her friends.

She is survived by her two sons, William Joseph Kinsland and Jeffery Lee Kinsland (Debbie); two daughters, Jannessa Elizabeth Brown (Alan) and Judith Amy Wiggins (Jim Holmes) along with six grandchildren, David Andrew Baldwin (Makayla), Kelsey Breanna Baldwin (Holden Gregory), Bryan Conner Wiggins, Jessica Erin Weddington, Whitney Michelle Lund and Benjamin Joseph Kinsland and five great grandchildren and many loving nieces and nephews.  

In addition to her parents, she was also predeceased by three brothers, Max Teague Henderson, Charles Lester Henderson and Conway Wilson Henderson and one sister, Linda Sue Morrow.

A Celebration of life will be held November 14, 2026 at Union United Methodist Church (49 Union Church Road, Franklin, North Carolina 28734) at 2:00 PM. All are welcome and light refreshments will be served.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Macon County Animal Services, 1377 Lakeside Drive, Franklin, NC 28734 or by phone: 828-349-2106.