I have tried several times, through many tears, to put this into words. I am sure I have failed. There are no words that are powerful enough to express how important Joni was to me and to convey the connection that we had through our friendship… I have so many Joni stories in my head and I’ve made short notes on many of them, but there is something about typing out the whole story that seems to be final and I have not been able to do that, yet. This is the first… The day we shaved her head was one of the most powerful days of my life! And, it was the perfect example of how she lived her life, always living life to the fullest and on her terms, being a survivor and a warrior, and all the while having the utmost concern for those around her.

​

For a few weeks before that day, in our phone conversations and visits, she brought up the topic of her hair. It had not all fallen out but there was significant thinning. She complained of the weight of her hair causing pain and she was concerned that it didn’t look healthy. She had already had a haircut and talked about “wanting it gone” but she hesitated for many reasons including her concern about what others would think and how it would look. She talked some about watching videos of other women taking control by shaving their hair. She was uplifted by their strength and was unsure if she had the courage to do it. I tried my best to encourage her by telling her how uplifting her perseverance was to me. And, I let her know that I would be there for her if she decided to shave her head. At this point, she already had a good selection of really cute head wear, and we joked that they could be put to good use. She was physically prepared and had everything she needed but there was still uncertainty…

​

A few days before that day, she called and asked if we had any “good clippers” at our house (she had some, but had used them for grooming her pets). I told her yes, in fact we had just gotten a brand new pair and Chad had never used them! I asked if that meant that she was ready and she said, “Yes!” Of course that was followed up by her concern over being the first person to use the new clippers (that is so much like Joni-- she wanted me to make sure that it would be okay with Chad). I assured her that he did not mind and told her I would bring them with me to the lake that weekend.

​

If my memory serves me correctly, the day we shaved Joni’s head was the same day that we had Friendsgiving at the lake house. As with all our other gatherings, food takes center stage. That day was no different. And, of course, Joni had to “do my part”. I don’t remember the dish (maybe it was green bean casserole) but I do remember that she made a HUGE pan of it (as she always did) and I’m sure it was delicious! Looking back on this now and realizing how sick she was, I appreciate her efforts to “stay as normal as possible” even more. Not one day did she complain and not one day did she let cancer take control of her! In fact, on the last day of her life, she was busy trying to introduce me to her family as I walked in her hospital room. I will never forget that moment for as long as I live! She lay there dying and she wanted to make sure that I was properly introduced to her family. Struggling for every breath, she took off her oxygen mask and said to them, “That’s Tina, my best friend”. For the record, she was a far better friend to me than I even know how to be.

​

For Friendsgiving, we had all (about 30 or so marina friends) gathered to watch football, visit, catch up on marina happenings, and EAT! At some point near halftime of one of the football games, Joni asked if I had brought the clippers. I told her that I had them and I would get them out of the car. We went to the master bathroom, Lori and Reta went with us. Once we entered the bathroom, we went through the process of setting up. I could tell that she was a little anxious. We all encouraged her and told her that this was her decision. She said, “Ok, let’s do it”. We did…

​

As with any other adventure I had with Joni, this was fun because she made it fun. That sounds crazy but it’s true! Joni made even the difficult emotional experience of having her head shaved an adventure! Once we got started, there were smiles, no-hair jokes, and lots of plans for the cuteness of all the headwear she had. I am no cosmetologist, but I did my best with a few hairstyles along the way (short in back and long in front, half head shaved, mohawk, etc.) We KNEW we were making memories (I am SO thankful for the pics- thanks Sherry! And the video). We HOPED she would be here for many years to come to share them. One of her concerns during this process was what Tom (TR) would think and what the guys (marina crew) would think. We all assured her that everyone would be in support of her decision and that we would “take care” of anyone who was not. During this discussion, as I continued to shave her head, it became apparent that she had missed her calling of being a bald model! I have NEVER seen anyone with a more perfect head shape for being bald! And, I had never seen her look so beautiful! We all remarked at how we would not cover up that head with any headwear.

​

Once we were finished, it was time to present this courageous friend to the group… We walked back in to the living area, got the attention of the crowd, and introduced her. At this point, she had on a Bama toboggan. With the curiosity and encouragement of all her friends, she took it off and everyone told her how beautiful she was. No one has had more to say about her beauty on that day than Tom Roberts. He did not know what we were doing, although he had heard her speak about it in days prior. Her baldness was a complete surprise! He has told me many times that her beauty on that day was overwhelming. She had always been beautiful, but without hair as a distraction, you could really see her beautiful eyes and her smile. On that day, her physical beauty rivaled the beauty of her soul and her caring spirit. This world was better when she was here…

 

--------------------------------------------------------------

​

​

 

HER LOVELY FACE!

​

 

From the very first time I met her, there was always something about her face. She never needed to use makeup…I always thought. But every night, she’d be in front of the bathroom mirror…applying all the special creams, wrinkle reducers and whatnot. And every morning, she’d be standing in front of the same mirror, applying the finishing touches to what I thought only Michelangelo could have painted.

When we got married in August 1981 she told me that she was sensitive about her “big hooking nose.” I personally loved her snout just as it was. What she asked me for that Christmas for her present was to have a nose augmentation…that’s it…nothing more.

Enter my great friend…my constant business advisor…and TR’s “tax man” to this day…Mike Dodd in Nashville…the absolute best in the world. Joni was the lead latent print technician for the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department at the time. Mike got this surgery (and our following “Braces at 30” procedures) deemed taxed deductible under the laws’ Professional Appearance clause.

Little Queen’s obsession with maintaining her face continued to the bitter end. Every time I’d ask her, “Honey, you don’t need to do that…you don’t even need to use makeup…so why?” She’d always fire back with the same response: “I just want to look good for you.”

But I knew the rest of the story! Her sweet mom (Ms. Jean, who died of pancreatic cancer) had instilled in all the Hensel girls such a degree of self-pride. Joni never was guilty of being vain. She was just a product of her classy and incredible upbringing.
 

The Thursday before Joni had to be admitted into the hospital where she would leave us the following Tuesday, she could be found looking into her bathroom mirror…wearing her oxygen-feeding tube and applying makeup to a face that simply did not need it.

One of “Joni’s Angels,” Ginger Lashley, was in charge as I was engaged in a writing project. I was called to Huntsville Hospital that afternoon and that was the beginning of the final days of Joni’s life on earth.

Her body had suffered the toll of the vicious disease cancer. She only weighed 98 pounds and her tumors were visible in the middle of her lower back and lower right side of her chest.

But her lovely face…it was perfect!

Miss you and will love you always, Sweetie!

-TR

​

------------------------------------------------------
 

Cari Maiorino:  Joni’s Sister Remembers the Early Years

​

I first met Joni June 1961, when my Mom and step-Dad were married. A week after their wedding, Joni turned 4 years old. We were a “blended” family. My brother and I were my Mom’s children and my three sisters were my Dad’s children. We started our blended family in Falls Church, VA. I don’t recall much about that first year together. I do remember we had huge maps on the walls between the second and third floor. One was a map of the US, the second was a World map. Dad came home with the news he had accepted a position in Buenos Aires, Argentina. So in the Fall of 1962 we were off, a family of 7 and one Doberman, Annie.

 

The photo of Mom, Joni, my grandmother Mimi, Grandma (Myrt) Hensel and Aunt Clara was taken along the Potomac River and Cherry Blossoms in the Spring of 1962.

 

The Buenos Aires Adventure

​

Our home was a summer villa our family rented. We had a family that lived with us. The mother was our cook/house keeper. Their son, Daniel, was the same age as Joni. This is when Joni learned Spanish and also got her nickname “Juanita”. That’s Joni in Spanish. Those two spoke a language all their own.

​

I have pictures to remind me of those early years both in Virginia and Buenos Aires. There was quite an age difference between us three older children, Barnie, Sue and me and Joni and Patti. I was seven years older than Joni so our activities were different. 

 

On to Miami

 

We moved back to Miami in the Spring of 1964. We had a beautiful home on an acre of land, with a pool. Plenty of room for 5 kids and dogs to run and play.

 

One very fond memory I have of Joni as a kid in Miami was her raccoon. My Mom and I drove to Clewiston, FL to pick up a baby raccoon for Joni’s birthday. I have no idea why she wanted a raccoon. I’ve attached a picture of Joni and her raccoon. Joni was a teenager at this point. She had this raccoon until it matured into an adult and had to be released into the wilds of the Everglades.

 

All of us loved animals and over the years, we had plenty: dogs, cats, birds, fish, rabbits, etc. I know this is where Joni learned to love all animals.

 

Our home was 2 miles west of Parrot Jungle Gardens. We spent hours in this beautiful park filled with parrots of every kind and every color. We used to see Macaws flying over the house, as not all of the birds were caged.

 

My Dad took a position in Frankfurt, Germany in the early 70’s. My brother and I watched the Pan Am plane taxi and depart. Mom, Patti and Joni were on their way to Germany. Joni left as a teenager and came back (5 years later) a beautiful young adult.

 

TR Enters the Picture

​

Shortly thereafter, she headed to Atlanta and TR took over her story. All of us were present for Joni and TR’s wedding in 1981. The sisters were Joni’s maid of honor and bridesmaids.

 

I am envious of those of you who got to enjoy Joni throughout her adult years. We stayed close through family events. She blessed all of our lives in so many, many ways. I have two of her stained glass pieces she made for me. I will always cherish them.

​

 I miss my “chats” with her and the calls asking about spices, recipes or whatever. We always laughed. I enjoy all the photos posted here.

 

Joni will always be in my heart. Miss you Baby Girl!

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

---------------------------------------------------

 

TR Remembers Joni

​

I was fortunate enough to be one of only two students graduating in Communications at the University of Alabama who had jobs lined up when I received my diploma.  When I moved to Atlanta to be the Assistant Director of Public Relations at the Atlanta race track, I soon lost my girlfriend.  It was only a matter of months before I had to face the death of my father, who was only 57 and never got to see big-time racing as an insider as I had hoped. 

 

Bobby Batson was the best boss I could have ever had during that period.  Not only did I learn so much from him, he was like a big brother to me.  His wife, Janie, was our office secretary and kept us both in line.  They were my family during my days in Atlanta.  I dated an attractive “spoiled little rich girl” from Buckhead and a really sweet little country redhead from Stockbridge at the time (wonder where they are today?).  I went out with several younger girls when I would venture back home to Guntersville.  I remember them fondly to this day.  I think they were probably more fascinated by the sporty-looking pace car I was driving then than they were actually interested in me. 

 

Then I met this cute little blond who was relocating from Miami to Atlanta to work for Collins Avionics.  We were introduced by her sister before she moved to Albuquerque for her graduate studies at the University of New Mexico.  No, it wasn’t love at first sight, but we did sort of grow on each other.  Joni and I were just dating back in 1980 when we were “Raggedy Ann and Andy” at the track’s Halloween costume contest in this photo. 

 

Her father was a former Marine colonel who had a second career working for the FAA.  When he found out that his youngest daughter was dating a guy who worked in racing, it wasn’t a cordial scene at first.  He likened her situation as to, ”my daughter’s going out with the wrestling crowd.”  That changed when he was able to meet Dale Earnhardt and Ricky Rudd.  He became a huge fan of the sport after attending a race at Talladega and getting the full race experience thanks to our friends at R.J. Reynolds.  Until he passed away in 2011, we chatted almost every Tuesday about the past race weekend and what was up next on the schedule. 

 

Through the years, the little blond and I have experienced so much together.  We’ve seen the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. There was the fun period of our lives spent in Nashville.  I was running around with the local racing crowd and she was working for the Metro Police Department.  Much to my surprise, she ventured out to the firing range and learned to be a trained marksman with her .38 Special.  We maintained a healthy lifestyle as I became a faithful member of the downtown YMCA and worked out there on almost a daily basis.  She really got into aerobics to the point that she participated in competitions for several years.

 

When I left the race track business and opened my own PR firm, she traveled with me for a full season, helping me with the ZEREX/Alan Kulwicki account.  One year on the road was enough for her.  We had moved back home to Alabama and she soon went to work for the health department.  She loved racing and still does.  She has been able to pick and choose a race here and there to attend.  She was in Atlanta in November of 1992 to see Alan win the championship and took part in celebrating it in New York that year.  She was petrified when she received phone calls on April 1, 1993, when the Hooters plane went down and I hadn’t called her to say I wasn’t aboard as was planned.

 

The years working with Rusty Wallace were extra enjoyable because she became good friends with Patti Wallace, Lisa Pemberton, Stella Paysor, Heidi Brooks and the wives of other team members.  They’ll always fondly recall the wine & cheese party they had up by the water tower at Sears Point when Rusty won the race there in 1996.  When rumors floated around that there were team spotters who were partaking before and during the race, the girls were “invited” to have their fun in a sponsor’s chalet the next time around.

 

During the last few years, she has attended very few races.  That’s mostly because all of her marina friends have so much fun during their race and Bama football viewing parties.  She did come to Talladega on Saturday a couple of Octobers ago.  That wasn’t to see a race, but to hook up with Kurt Busch’s party who choppered down to Tuscaloosa for the Tennessee game. 

 

I look back now and think it’s pretty neat to have witnessed her transformation.  Here was a girl who graduated from high school in Frankfort, Germany, and enjoyed snow skiing in the Swiss Alps.  Today she is very content enjoying beautiful Lake Guntersville and following NASCAR racing and Crimson Tide athletics.

 

Another racing season is under way and the biggest change for both of us is that I am no longer out there at every race like I had been for 29 years.  I hope to be back on the road, at least part-time, during the next month or so.  For my health’s sake, I hope that comes to fruition and here’s why.  Warm weather is just around the corner.  With the highs expected near 70 degrees here this weekend, she is talking about paddleboarding from our pier to the marina.  “You stick around here long enough and I’m gonna get you up on one of these things,” she told me last night.

 

More than 30 years after talking me into dressing up like a playschool rag doll for the Halloween costume contest in Atlanta, she can still sway me into doing almost anything.  I have no plans to attend the Las Vegas race this weekend.  Someone better alert the local rescue squad.

​

------------------------------------------------------

 

Judi Beekley Remembers Joni

​

Joni was a gentle, sweet soul but also a young soul.  An older soul would never have tried to please everyone but would have known how to find happiness from within.  Always friendly, kind and appearing happy.  Few knew how easily she was hurt.  She never had to try so hard to fit in everywhere as she always could but felt insecure and many times not good enough which really pissed me off.  

That was my friend to whom I gave many lectures and many glasses of wine.  I loved her dearly and miss her horribly.

Many enjoyable evenings were spent at my “zoo” discussing birds, koi, and finally recipes.  She would consult me for information on spices and would consult my husband Bill for unusual recipes.  Whenever one of them would find a fabulous dish, the recipes would always be exchanged.  Several were tried out on her marina friends.

One time I killed all of my beautiful koi because I got distracted and forgot to turn off the water.  The next morning they were all dead except three hardy guys.  I called Joni in tears.  Joni’s concern was what did I do with the fish.  Well I bagged them and put them in the trash can.  Joni was so upset. At the time I had not yet had a knee replacement and it was nearly impossible for me to dig a hole to bury my beautiful fish.  At about 5:15 pm, Joni was at my house asking where I kept my shovel.  She got the bad of fish out of the trash, dug a hole by my pond and buried all my fish.  I said “ Joni, you didn’t have to do that and she said, “that’s what friends do”.  The burial was followed by many tears and many glasses of wine.

Our friend Cathy’s birthday comes around the same time as Jon’s did.  We found this to be a perfect excuse for the three of us to begin the weekend early.  The  tradition was for Joni to take the afternoon off and to close the Rock House.  Several times we were actually “encouraged” to leave.  Oh well we hit our favorite store afterwards.  “Savvy Stuff” where we always managed to find wonderful and unusual items.  I have not been there since.  

One time I was at her house.  I was attempting to get on her hammock.  I’m so damned short that I kept falling off.  We got to laughing so hard that I was snorting.  That made us laugh all that much harder.  A fun day.

I taught Joni how to work with stained glass and how to etch and carve glass.  Within two months, she made me look like the student.  Joni was so talented because she paid incredible attention to detail.  Her dream which was never realized was to go to art school.  What a marvel she would have bee as an artist.  In my opinion she was a special gal and I hope in her next life all of her dreams will come true.  Judi

 

------------------------------------------------------

​

Sherry Ray Remembers Joni

​

My favorite story's are when we were in Charleston and were at Moe's Tavern and Joni couldn't make up her mind which brew beer to order and they gave her a half of a glass of every one they had! LOL! Needless to say she didn't need to buy any beer but she needed food!

The other favorite is when she told Liberty that she was going to make Shrimp and Grits so we went to Boone Hall Market for the stoned milled  grits and to the seafood shop for shrimp and to Harris Teeter's for the rest of the ingredients which I agreed to pay for. LOL ! Big mistake! Joni did not know how to cut the recipe down to less than 40 people. There were 3 of us and we invited 2 more of Lib's friends. She called you TR to make sure she had all the ingredients right and I could only hear one side of the conversation which was a hoot! Anyway, we cooked it and I had to go back to the store for qt ziplock freezer bags for the left overs. We ate shrimp and grits for breakfast , lunch and dinner for 3 days and froze the rest. After a year of eating, Lib has 2 qts left. She will eat those in memory of Joni over the next couple of months. Loved her so much and we were looking forward to another trip to Charleston so she could carry her paddle board instead of renting.

​

------------------------------------------------------

​

​

​

​