Beaufort was never far from his mind, though. He married a Beaufort girl, the former Anita Sandel, and they purchased a rental property in Pigeon Point in 1984. His father, a commercial pilot after leaving the Corps, relocated to Texas but still owned the historic Oaks Plantation on St. Helena Island. By 2001, Dunn and Bradstreet had assigned Henson to a job he could perform remotely, so he and Anita returned to Beaufort on their 29th wedding anniversary.

“Really, 29 years to the day after we left town,” Henson said. He retired from Dunn and Bradstreet in 2005. Since then, he has worked as a cart attendant at the Country Club of Beaufort, volunteered for the Meals on of only two computers in the hospital. “I felt privileged,” she jokes.Wheels charity and currently serves as a bailiff at the Beaufort County Courthouse. Henson also has been able to indulge his passion for history, which was his college major before switching to business management.

He is a member and past commander of the Gen. Richard H. Anderson chapter of the Sons of Confederate Veterans and the Gov. Paul Hamilton Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution. The groups’ work includes placing markers at the gravesites of service members, and recognizing the area’s outstanding junior ROTC students and Eagle Scouts. Henson was also on a Sons of Confederate Veterans committee that worked with the Beaufort Historic Foundation and other organizations to raise $14,000 toward restoring a Beaufort Volunteer Artillery banner in 2011.

Dubbed the “Unsurrendered Flag,” it was sewn by the wives of Beaufort militiamen in 1858. It was damaged but mended after the Battle of Port Royal in November 1861, and carried into other Civil War conflicts. When the Beaufort Volunteers were forced to surrender in 1863, one of the unit’s soldiers wrapped the flag around his body, beneath his uniform, so that it would not have to be handed over to the Union.
Presented to the S.C. Confederate Relic Room in 1896 by the Beaufort Volunteers’ second Civil War captain, Dr. Henry Middleton Stuart, the banner was severely damaged by years of war and subsequent storage. Finally restored, it is now on loan from the Relic Room and displayed at the Verdier House on Bay Street, which serves as the Beaufort Historic Foundation’s museum. Placed there in September 2011, it had been 115 years since it was last seen in Beaufort.

Like Henson, it now enjoys a second homecoming. While in Texas, Gene was assigned another tour in Korea. Brenda stayed so not to disturb the children’s academic and sports calendars. “I developed a new respect for single mothers,” she explains as she juggled working full time and shuttling trips from school to piano lessons, judo and baseball or soccer practice — all eating fast food meals in between. Brenda was elated to learn that the Korean Government partially underwrote a trip for Officer’s spouses to visit. It was her first trip to East Asia! Brenda and Gene traveled from Seoul, South Korea to Bangkok and Hong Kong. “It was the trip of a lifetime and further instilled the vagabond in me.”

When Gene got orders for a second tour in Germany, Brenda said, “We’re coming!” They moved to Landstuhl, and Brenda taught weekly classes called, Surviving German, at the teen center. She taught her children to watch and learn how things were done differently…how to greet people for instance, or how to eat, or how and when to speak to strangers. As a result, they learned to appreciate new customs and patterns. They had planned to give the kids Eurail passes upon graduation, but they returned to the States before that happened. Their last duty assignment was at Fort McPherson in Atlanta, Gene served as Staff Judge Advocate under General Colin Powell. Brenda became the Marketing/Communications Director for the Cobb County Government. They were there four years; Gene retired in 1992 after serving 21 years in the Army.

The couple decided that one spouse would follow if the other found a job first. While on vacation in Hilton Head, Brenda happened to look in the want ads and saw an opening for a defense attorney for what was then called the Beaufort County Public Defender Corporation. Gene accepted their offer, and a year later became the Chief Public Defender for the Corporation and later for the entire 14th Judicial Circuit, the largest district in the State. Beaufort became their home, and the community embraced them. After holding several different positions in the community, Brenda decided to try something different. While in Europe, she and Gene had loved going to the flea markets and renovating their “finds.” Brenda developed an appreciation for antiques and restoration and had always wanted to open a store. Serendipitously, she found a giant warehouse sale in Savannah. They were auctioning off doors, mantles, civil war memorabilia and more. 

She bought all she could and opened Legacy and Whimsey on Carteret Street. She and Robbie DeLoach often went to market together, and Brenda bought decorative accents to augment antique sales. Gene often refinished or repaired furniture. “It was hidden gem, and all of the locals loved it.” A few years later, lured by a promise of better visibility, she moved to Port Republic Street. Two weeks after she moved in, however, the City of Beaufort started their two-year streetscape project. Getting to her shop was difficult, even for her. When her lease was finally set to renew, Brenda prudently made a bold move. Why pay rent when she could own? She bought a cottage to house her antiques shop and purchased the adjacent 3-unit townhome to establish some of the first short-term rentals in town; and, for good luck, added the vacant corner lot at Pigeon Point Road and Calhoun Street. She successfully reopened Legacy & Whimsey in the cottage and subsequently established a short-term rental business, Magnolia Court Guest Suites, on the property as well.

In 2018, Brenda’s husband passed away after 49 years of marriage. In October 2021, the business savvy Brenda Hood sold the commercial real estate. “I’m ready to travel again,” she says with a resolute smile. While she will maintain her US citizenship, Brenda plans to travel abroad as much as possible. Like the saying goes, “Not all those who wander are lost.” Kudos, Brenda, for having the courage to follow your dreams.