Helen Marie English
Helen Marie Howington English was born July 23, 1945. She grew up in Alabama in several small towns. She was educated at Pollard McCall Jr. High and W.S. Neal High School in Brewton. She graduated from Pensacola Junior College and attended The University of West Florida.
Helen married Robert M. English and raised 3 children: Robert Jr, Scott, and Stacey. The children were 3 years and 3 days apart, so she was very busy during her young years. After her children were raised she welcomed her precious grandchildren, Justin, Rhett, Cody, Isabella, and Sofia. They were the light of her life.
While attending college Helen also worked for Santa Rosa County School System. For a number of years, she was a substitute teacher and she greatly loved her students and everything to do with them. She felt lucky to have been able to see some of her students become parents and outstanding citizens.
Even though her family had difficult times, they had many happy times. Her family never had much money or material things but she took pride in what she had. She was gifted with the ability to make do with what she had and turn “nothing” into plenty. She saw to it that her children and grandchildren never did without.
She loved music, singing, reading, Scrabble, dogs, and cooking. Cooking was her favorite past time. Her kitchen was always open and anyone could find something warm and inviting on the stove. Her home and her meals were open to all, and many happy days and holidays were spent gathered around the table. She passed this love of cooking on to her children and grandchildren. Each of them knows how to cook and make cakes and cornbread stuffing from scratch.
Helen leaves behind a sister, Cathy Green, and a brother, Buddy Howington. She remained close to her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Charlie and Brenda English. She has many nieces, nephews, and friends who will miss her. Carolyn, Joan, Ruby, Tiffany, and Jackie were special friends and neighbors from Pace, where she lived for 29 years.
She leaves behind her precious family knowing that she loved them so very much and she taught them things they will carry on forever. A day never passed without a phone call or two from her children, grandchildren, friends, or other family members, and a visit was so exciting for her! Helen does not want sadness and crying, no sorrow of her leaving, only happiness and laughter. She left this earth knowing that the arms of Jesus would lift her soul into Heaven.
A graveside service will be held at 1:00 P.M. at Berrydale Baptist Church Cemetery on November 9, 2011.
Jay Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.