Annie Elizabeth Helms

“Mommy” Our world is much richer because we were blessed to have Annie Elizabeth Williams Helms in our lives. This “Woman for All Seasons” began her earthly sojourn through life on December 5, 1927 in Arkadelphia, Arkansas and completed her journey on December 13, 2017 at her home. She was the third of fifteen children born to Fonnie Roy and Eloise Holmes Williams. She lived 90 beautiful years. At an early age, she made a personal decision to accept Christ as her Savior at St. Paul AME Church in Arkadelphia. She served as Sunday school teacher, choir member and pianist. By every account, Annie was an intelligent, joyful and obedient, gifted with a gentle nature that would serve her all of her life. She was a 1947 graduate of the now historic Peake High School and with the encouragement of her brother, Rev. F. R. “Rixie” Williams who served on the board of ABC, encouraged her to further her education at Arkansas Baptist College, Little Rock, Arkansas (1947-1949). On faith, she moved west to California unsure of how this would all work out, but the God she loved and trusted made a way. He also put her in the path of the Neal Family who was Methodist and had ties to Arkadelphia. Through that relationship she was offered a pianist position at the church. She joined the fellowship of Belmont Baptist Church in Los Angeles and served as the sanctuary choir president for several years. She met and married Henry A. Helms and to this union six children were born. She was a loving and protective mother. Those who crossed her path remember her as invariably cheerful, patient and kind. To her family, she was their rock – always serene, never harboring a shadow of doubt about God’s grace and mercy, forever gracious and classy. She was a 1951 graduate of the Merritt School of Business and a 1967 graduate of West Coast Trade Schools, Inc. She worked as an account clerk with Budget Industrial Uniform Supply and as a nurse attendant at County USC Medical Center. She was later promoted to unit manager and managed three wards. She later worked as an intermediate clerk for the County of Los Angeles USC Medical Center, El Cerrito Hospital, UCLA Medical Center and her last transfer and promotion to account clerk II was to Rancho Los Amigos Medical Center. In May 1988, she retired from the Rancho Los Amigos Medical Center and relocated to Arkadelphia in 1991 to fish, be closer to her family, friends and the community that had first inspired her to seek out a well-rounded and fulfilling life. She rededicated herself as a member of St. Paul AME Church where she served in the choir and reestablished close ties to her family and friends. She later transferred her membership to Greater Pleasant Hill Baptist Church under the leadership of Dr. Lewis A. Shepherd, Jr. She served with the WMU and Senior Saints ministries. She was a regular traveler and delegate to the National Baptist Convention USA., Incorporated. She worked part-time at Williams Funeral Home and Wells Shoe Store downtown Arkadelphia. She loved to travel whether by water, rail or air. She was always ready to pack up and go. Some of her favorite places were New York City, Hawaii, Buffalo NY, Niagara Falls and the list goes on and on. Family get-togethers were her best times. She was a sharp spades partner and enjoyed spending time with her family. Mommy is already missed. She is preceded in death by her parents, Roy and Eloise Williams; one son, Gary L. Helms; a grandson, Tremaine Helms; a daughter-in-law, Catrenia Helms; brothers, Roy Williams Jr., James Williams, U.S.P. Williams, Johnny Williams, Benjamin Williams, Rev. F. R. "Rixie" Williams, Tyrannus Williams and Tyree Williams; sisters, Ethel Williams-Shaddock, Katie Williams-Gray, Earl Lee Williams-Fisher, Patricia Williams-Fisher and Creasie L. Pennix. The sweetness of Annie will be cherished by her husband, Henry A. Helms, Sr; her children, Gwendolyn Hoxey, Henry A. “Al” Helms, Jr., Kim A. Helms, Brian T. Helms and Pamela V. Helms; grandsons, Lamont Hoxey, Andre Hoxey, Armen Hoxey, Damien (Sheri) Helms, Christopher Helms, Keiron Helms and Roland L. Gosey; great-grandchildren, Jordan Helms, DeAndre Helms, Travon Helms, LaShara Martin and Alexandria Hoxey; great-great-grandson Kamari R. Baugh; sister, Veronica (Billy) Easter of Meridian, Mississippi; brothers, Joshua Williams and Charles Ray (Tara) Williams of Arkadelphia, Arkansas, Logan (Linda) Williams of Los Angeles, California, and Tommy (Wanda) Williams of Lynwood, California; sister-in-law, Erma J. Andrews; brothers-in-law Billy (Nora) Henderson and Clyde (Pat) Henderson. She also leaves a cadre of nieces, nephews; innumerable great-nieces and nephews, cousins, special cousins, Vivian Harris, Glenn Taylor and Fraulene D. Rogers; she leaves her extended family, Dr. Kenneth G. Harris, Jr., Pamala Harris, Kristi Harris Brown, Kamryn Brown, Ruthie T. Knox, Evelyn Browning, Shirley Henry and Gerald Browning. Special friends, Ethel Harris, Mickey Shepard, Betty Taylor, Marie Rushing and Bonnie Riley.