Mother Lillie Lane-Henson

Mother Lillie B. Calhoun was born in Baxter, Arkansas on May 11, 1928.  She was the ninth child of 21 children born to the union of Henry and Callie Calhoun.

She moved to Kansas City, Kansas at the age of 17 with her parents and siblings. Her early education was in a schoolhouse in Arkansas. She completed her GED in Kansas City MO and went on to attend Penn Valley Community College where she graduated with her Associate Degree in Arts and Science in 1982. She continued her education to include a certification in Early Childhood development. She also graduated from C. H. Mason Bible College.

Mother Lillie B. Lane-Henson worked as a private maid, in Woolsworth  Dept. Store, in the Egg Plant Factory, the Kansas City, MO Public School District where she retired in 1993. She worked also in Daycare after her retirement.

Mother Lillie B. Calhoun received Christ at an early age in Arkansas and later became a member at Zion Travers MBC in 1945.During a tent revival in 1947 she devoted to live her life completely to Christ. In 1951, Mother Lillie B. Calhoun and Elder Lester B. Lane, Sr. were married and brought with them Clarissa, James Donnell and Erma. To this union five additional children were born, Lester Jr., Oliver Sr., Michael Sr., Lillie Renee and Linda.

Mother Lillie B. Lane-Henson started out under the leadership of Elder Agnew and later on became a member at Havenside Church of God in Christ under the leadership of Bishop Owens. The Lord called her into the Ministry when she said that she saw the Lord hand her a bible and told her to go and preach my Word. She was a choir member, locally and state and has traveled to convocations and women conventions, singing in the C.H. Mason International Choir. She also held offices in the church on the Mothers’ Board and Missionary Board.

Mother Lillie B. Lane-Henson was an anointed woman of God that believed in healing and was called upon day or night from many far and near for prayer. She loved serving the Lord, worshiping with the saints and enjoyed giving treats and snacks to her church family and was always willing to help anyone in need.

Mother Lillie B. Lane-Henson faithfully served in other ministries, playing the piano, running revivals and evangelizing: Twenty Seven Street Church of God in Christ, formerly known as Valley Pentecost Church of God in Christ (The Church in the Valley) under the leadership of the late Elder Y. B. Frazier, Boone Tabernacle Church of God in Christ under the leadership of the late Elder Floyd Thuston and Bishop Lemuel Thuston and Henson Memorial Church of God in Christ under the leadership of the late Superintendent Arie Henson and Elder Aaron Henson, Sr.

Mother Lillie B. Lane Henson attended her daughter’s church Evangelist Temple Christ Unlimited Church of God in Christ under watch care under the leadership of the late Bishop Carl Landrum, Sr. and Elder Kenneth Landrum, Sr. She continued to serve in the church as Church Mother, teaching and preaching the Word of God and also she and her daughter Linda evangelized at her place of living, the community senior apartments.  She loved her family and taught them to be faithful to God, to pursue your dreams, do your best in whatever you set out to do.  She always encouraged her children and others that wanted or needed a word of wisdom.

Mother Lillie B. Lane married Superintendent Arie Henson in 2010 and together they traveled and enjoyed companionship. She was First Lady Lillie Henson at Henson Memorial Church of God in Christ.  Some of her favorite songs were:  “You Bought Me Lord, You Paid the Price, I Belong to You”, “I Know the Lord Will Make A Way”, “Jesus “I’ll Never Forget What You Done For Me”, Satan I Done Put You Out of My Life” that she wrote and “ If You Just Hold Out til Tomorrow, Everything Will Be Alright”.

Mother Lillie B. Lane-Henson had many talents, one of them were reciting poems and one that always stood out was baking her famous pound cakes and sweet potato pies.  When it came to baking, she rarely used a recipe. Family and friends asked for them at work, church and family reunions and also by word of mouth from others.  It didn’t matter how many you wanted she was always willing to bake them whether it was for a holiday, banquet or birthday.

She was preceded in death by her parents: Henry Sr. and Callie Calhoun, her husband: Superintendent Arie Henson, her brothers: Lawrence (Preston), Willie (her twin), Joseph, and John, her sisters: Artelia, Rosie, Ruby, Lovie, Irene, Shirley, Carrie, Mae, and Bettie, daughter: Clarissa, daughters-in-law: Ruth, Francis and Rochelle, grandson: Derek, and stepsons: Frank and Wayne.

She leaves to cherish her memory: sons: Darnell Brown of Kansas City, MO, Lester Lane, Jr.(Okhwa) of NC, Oliver Lane, Sr.(Bonnie) of Spring Hill, LA, and Michael Lane, Sr. of Kansas City, MO, daughters: Erma Field of Shreveport, LA, Lillie Renee Lane, Linda Lane and Lacole Lane (Phil) of Kansas City, MO, step daughters: Judy Henson and Arieta Henson of Kansas City, KS, brothers: James Calhoun, Sr. aka  “Jimmy” (Bessie) of Hampton, VA, Henry Calhoun, Sr. aka “Boonie” (Debbra) of Kansas City, KS and Charles Calhoun, Sr. (Gaye) of Wichita, KS, sisters: Marie Huskey, Minnie Cobbins and Doris Wagner (Carl) of Kansas City, MO, god daughters, Claudia Shears, Katrina and Evelyn Hamilton, god son, Andrew Williams, Jr., 30 grandchildren, 17 step grandchildren, 61 great grandchildren, 7 great great grandchildren, a host of nieces, nephews, Church family and many other friends.