Barbara A Hennessy

In Loving Memory of Barbara A. Hennessy

Barbara A. Hennessy, beloved sister, aunt, and friend, passed away peacefully in the early evening hours of Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at Agape Community Hospice House in Summerville, South Carolina. She was surrounded by family and cared for with deep compassion by the hospice staff. She was 67 years old.

Born on January 1, 1958, Barbara was the only daughter of the late Donald M. Alderson Jr. and Margaret N. Alderson.

She is survived by her brothers: Donald M. Alderson III, Brian K. Alderson, and Graham D. Alderson; their wives and many loving nieces and nephews — all of whom she adored and supported throughout her life.

Barbara earned her degree in Accounting from George Mason University in the early 1980s. After building a successful career working for others, she took the bold step of founding her own consulting firm, CDS, providing strategic support to companies in the government contracting space. Her insight and professionalism made her a valuable resource to many large and small businesses.

In the 1990s, Barbara applied for and was accepted into the federal government’s 8(a) program for disadvantaged small businesses. As part of that process, she rebranded her company as CDS 2. Under her leadership, CDS 2 expanded to provide engineering and program management services to the Department of Defense and various civilian agencies. She was deeply committed to her work and the clients she served, earning a reputation for integrity and excellence.

Although Barbara devoted much of her energy to her business, she had a deep love for adventure and the outdoors. She especially enjoyed snow skiing, going on multiple trips with family and friends to refresh her skills. But it was sunshine and water that truly captured her heart. From her early years, she took every opportunity to spend time near the beach, at the lake, or by the pool—joyfully “paying homage to the sun gods,” as she liked to say.

That love led her to fulfill one of her greatest dreams: owning a lake house. After a careful search, she found the perfect home on Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia. She threw herself into its renovation, shaping it to match her unique style and vision. But more than that, Barbara made it a place of welcome. Knowing that not everyone had the opportunity to own a lakeside retreat, she graciously offered her lake house to friends and family, always encouraging them to treat it as their own. She found joy not just in the peace the lake brought her, but in sharing that peace with others.

Barbara loved small dogs and cats and found them extremely comforting. She decided to start a not-for-profit breeding, training and locating homes for a particular kind of dog that has proven to be beneficial to seniors, veterans and others with debilitating illnesses. She fostered at least four of these dogs, trained them and placed them with deserving individuals. She ended the venture when she determined that she could not scale up the activity.

Barbara will be remembered for her generosity, her drive, and her unwavering devotion to the people she loved. Her strength, ambition, and radiant spirit touched countless lives. She built a life of purpose and joy, and her legacy will live on in the hearts of all who knew her.

A memorial service will be held on October 18, 2025 from 4-6PM at:  Augustine Golf Club,  76 Monument Drive,  Stafford, VA  22554

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Barbara’s memory to Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org), Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (theaftd.org), Bluefield Project (bluefieldproject.org) or the Dementia Society of America (Dementiasociety.org), in support of dementia research, hospice care, or caregiver support.

The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to the staff at Agape Community Hospice House for their exceptional care, compassion, and support during Barbara’s final days.