Cynthia Sessions Hansen, age 71, of Lake Waccamaw, died unexpectedly on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. Cynthia was born on June 29, 1954 to Robert “Bobby” Eugene Sessions and Hattie Merle Hardee Sessions.
Cynthia was born and raised in the Hallsboro community before leaving for East Carolina University where she received a bachelor’s degree in education and began her career as a teacher. She later returned to Whiteville to raise her children, and continue teaching at Whiteville Primary.
Cynthia never met a stranger. She didn’t have any acquaintances, just friends for life. Cynthia was put on this earth to educate and help people become the best versions of themselves. Whether it was the hundreds of students she taught in her 30+ year career as a teacher or the many clients she trained in her second career as a personal trainer, Cynthia always put others first.
While she accumulated many awards, from being named North Carolina Teacher of the Year in 1994 to the numerous “Best of Columbus County” Personal Trainer honors, Cynthia valued her relationships with her students and clients the most. Former students kept in touch for decades and clients often times received more life advice than personal training.
If Cynthia wasn’t at her gym, she could be found meticulously keeping up with her yard and garden at Lake Waccamaw or the grounds at the Rube McCray Memorial Library, where she donated her time and was a valued member of its Board of Directors.
Cynthia was also a member of Peace Fellowship Church.
Most importantly, Cynthia was deeply devoted to her family. Left to cherish her memory forever are her husband; Richard Joseph “Joe” Hansen; daughter, Caroline Brickhouse Attmore (Bill) of Raleigh; son, John Sessions Brickhouse (Paige) of Charleston, S.C.; brother, Robert Sessions of Raleigh; and grandchildren, Hattie Attmore, Hackney Attmore, Owen Brickhouse, and Austin Brickhouse.
In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her brother Hearst Eugene Sessions and her sister June Sessions Harper.
A funeral service celebrating her life will be held on Friday, March 20, 2026, at 11 a.m. in the McKenzie Mortuary Chapel, 112 Jefferson, Whiteville. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 9:45 – 10:45 a.m.
McKenzie Mortuary, 112 Jefferson St., Whiteville is serving the Hansen family.
