Family Spotlight: The Henning Family

This month, Stroll Inside the Gates recognizes the Henning family. Ashley Henning grew up in Austin, TX, while her husband Joe hails from a small town in Eastern Iowa called Calamus. Ashley attended Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX for her undergraduate studies, and Joe attended the University of Dubuque in Dubuque, IA. The couple met in Dallas, TX and are happily married with two kids and one on the way. Their oldest son, Hayden (3), attends preschool at Gatewood Schools. Daughter Audrey (2) is the youngest Henning, but that is about to change as the family is expecting another baby boy this month. 

For work, Ashley owns an interior design business, Ashley Erhart Interiors. Joe, on the other hand, is a pilot for Delta Air Lines & currently flying internationally on the Airbus 350. Prior to Delta, Joe was employed by Envoy Air & Atlantic Southeast Airlines. The Hennings relocated to Reynolds from the Dallas-Fort Worth, TX area to be closer to Joe’s home airport, Atlanta’s Hartsfield Jackson. “After commuting to work, first to New York and later Atlanta, we knew it was time to move within driving distance,” adds Ashley. “We fell in love with Lake Oconee after our first visit and decided to make Reynolds our home in the spring of 2024. We wanted to raise our children around nature and in a smaller, safer environment.”

Though they are still new to Georgia’s Lake Country, the Hennings have already fallen in love with the scenery, the peaceful atmosphere, and the incredibly welcoming community. “We were drawn to Reynolds because of the natural beauty of the area as well as the top notch amenities,” continues Ashley. “This community has welcomed us with open arms. As parents of young children, we are so happy to be raising our children in a place with a small town feel. There are also so many opportunities to get involved socially within Reynolds which has made our transition much easier.”

The Henning family has already found many ways to stay involved in their new community. They frequently attend Lake Oconee Presbyterian Church, and Joe is also a member of Lake Oconee Anglers. In his free time, Joe is an avid hunter, fisherman, golfer & Iowa Hawkeyes football & basketball fan. Ashley is a busy mom of toddlers and enjoys yoga at the Lake Club, exploring local furniture & antique stores, and reading/attending book club. Ashley and Joe’s favorite restaurants are Esse and the Tavern, but they also enjoy breakfast at Cafe 44 and coffee from Sylvia’s in Eatonton. One of Ashley’s favorite local shops is Max & Molly, where she enjoys shopping for Hayden and Audrey. Ashley concludes, “On a beautiful day, you can probably find us on the lake with our kids, fishing in one of the Reynolds ponds, at the Landing playground, or the Landing or Richland Pointe pools.”