Published: January 21, 2008 04:55 pm            

Obituaries for January 21, 2008

Funeral services for Walter B. Helms, 84, of Jacksonville, will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008, in Autry Funeral Home Chapel with Bishop Rudy Bond, Bishop R.C. Helms and Tony Rollins officiating under the direction of Autry Funeral Home, Jacksonville. Burial will be in Meador Cemetery, Jacksonville.

Helms died Friday, Jan. 18, 2008, in Jacksonville. He was born Dec. 15, 1923, in Cushman, Ark.

He was a retired inspector for Gary Tool Co. and a member of New Life Worship Center in Tyler. He and his wife, Addie, pastored at First Pentecostal Church of God in Jacksonville for 15 years.

He is preceded in death by his first wife, Dorothy Helm; daughter, Wanda Redd; brothers, James, Genie and Verdell; sisters, Mary Wilkerson and Marie Melton. Survivors include his wife, Addie Helm, of Jacksonville; son and daughter-in-law Walter and Donna Helm of Spring; daughters and son-in-law, Linda and Steve Girault and Dorothy Rollins, all of Jacksonville; stepdaughter and stepson-in-law, Kathy and Tony Rollins of Jacksonville; stepsons and stepdaughters-in-law, John Soley of Huffman, Phillip and Cindy Soley of Spring, Steve and Brenda Soley of Kingwood, Doug Soley of Jacksonville and Gary and Cheryl Soley of Angleton; grandchildren, Michelle, Kelley, Deanna, Stephanie, Tony and Wesley; step-grandchildren, Jonathon, Meagan, Jessica, Ashley Jessie and Lisa; eight great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; four step great-grandchildren, R.C. Helms, of Corsicana, D.L. Helms of Jacksonville and Elmer Helms of Celeste; and a sister, Ruby Holbert of Houston.

Pallbearers will be Tony Rollins, Wesley Wilson, Kevin McCarty, Jonathan Sparks, Adam Alonso, Weldon Taylor, Erich Isayev and Ron Francis.

Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 21, 2008, at Autry Funeral Home.



Charlene Kelly Simmons, 86, of Jacksonville passed away on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2008, at her home in Oakwood, surrounded by her loving family. 

Graveside services will be at Mount Hope Cemetery in Wells at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 21, 2008, at Autry Funeral Home.

 Simmons was born July 27, 1921 in Douglas, to Luther and Alice Kelly. She retired from JISD as a food service worker and was a member of the Baptist church.

Simmons was preceeded in death by her husband of 63 years, Clay Morris Simmons, on April 18, 2005; and her parents and her sister, Opal Anderson of Kinder, La.

 She is survived by daughters and sons-in-law, Marlene Williamson of Humble, Martha and Larry Sockwell of Jacksonville, and Johnnie and Charles Brogdon of Buffalo.

 Grandchildren are De Lynda Moore, Robin Cleland, Don Garner, Jr. Kendra Scarborough, John Paul Elliott, Stephen Elliot, Michael Elliot, Frances Hague, Chuck Brogdon. Nieces are Shelia West and Barbara Anderson of Kinder, La. Simmons had 18 great-grandchildren  and  two  great-great grandsons.

Honorary pallbearers are Jerry Ellerbee, Nolan West, James Sockwell and Charles Brogdon.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests gifts be sent to Hospice of East Texas, 4111 University Blvd., Tyler, Texas 75701.

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.