Susan Kay Henson, age 77, of Birmingham, Alabama, passed away on September 28, 2026. 

Susan graduated from Sprayberry High School in Marietta, Georgia. She continued her education at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where she earned her B.A., M.A., and Ph.D., with focuses in anthropology and paleontology. Her education and passion for discovery took her around the world, where she participated in field studies, research, and excavations in both Israel and Egypt.

 Susan served as Collections Manager for the Natural History Department at Red Mountain Museum. She later continued her career as Collections Manager for the McWane Center. 

Outside of her professional life, Susan had a great love for genealogy. She spent countless hours driving, exploring, and researching her family’s history. She was also an avid reader and collector of books and loved sharing her favorite reads with others. 

Susan was preceded in death by her father, John O. Henson; her mother, Thelma Joyce Brasher Henson; and her brother, Steve Henson. 

She is survived by her sister, Sharon Henson Stilwell; her brother, John Henson and his wife, Tonya; her sister-in-law, Becky Henson, wife of her late brother Steve; her nieces and nephews, Tarah Webb, Daniel Henson, Daryl Henson, Allie Quakenbush, and Tiffany Fountain; as well as many great-nieces and great-nephews. 

Visitation will be held Saturday, October 3, 2026, from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. at Crestwood Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Crestwood Cemetery. Crestwood Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.