Virginia Joan Helms

Virginia “Joan” Waddill Helms passed away in Little Rock, Arkansas on Sunday, December 16, 2018. She is survived by her children, Dee Anne Helms Palmer (Mike) of Glen Allen, Virginia and Russ Franklin Helms (Linda) of Brisbane, Australia, her grandchildren, Nicole Reece Mount (Eric) of Searcy, Arkansas, Tyler Reece of West Chester, Pennsylvania, Meredith Palmer of Glen Allen, Virginia and Caroline Palmer of Glen Allen, Virginia, her great-grandchildren, Reece Mount, Chloe Mount and Anderson Mount of Searcy, Arkansas and many other relatives and friends. She is predeceased by her husband of 55 years, Boyce “Dee” Helms (1937-2015). Joan was born in Grubbs, Arkansas on March 25, 1939 to Norman and Vada Waddill. She graduated from Newport High School in 1957. She went to Harding University and Arkansas State College. She worked at the Farm Drive Inn when she was home in Newport. That’s where she met Boyce Dee. For him, it was love at first sight. For her, not so fast. He did eventually win her over and they married on August 9, 1959. They moved to Fayetteville, where she worked as a telephone operator while Boyce was in graduate school at the University of Arkansas. Dee Anne was born in 1961 in Fayetteville. Upon completion of Boyce’s Master’s degree, the family moved to Milton, Florida. In 1964, Russ was born and completed the family of four. In approximately 1967, the family moved to West Helena, Arkansas where Joan attended Philips County Community College and received her degree as a Registered Nurse. Then a couple of years later they returned to Milton, Florida and Joan worked as an RN at the Santa Rosa County Hospital. Her favorite place to work was in Labor & Delivery. In 1973, they moved to Houston, Texas where Joan worked as a hospital nurse and then a school nurse. In 1979, they moved to Benton, Kentucky where they spent the next 34 years. Joan worked as a hospital nurse and eventually went back to college at Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky. She obtained her BA and became an elementary school teacher. She spent many years working in the Marshall County Schools, first as a teacher and later as a guidance counselor. Boyce and Joan made friends and served the Lord wherever He called them. They served on many mission trips and were very active in their congregations and communities. Kentucky became home and they missed it sorely when they moved to Searcy, Arkansas in 2013. Joan was able to live at Harding Place for two years, thanks to the wonderful people that worked there and the caregivers that did an amazing job of taking care of her. She lived her last days at Avenir Senior Living in West Little Rock. She was well cared for by the staff there. Despite the pain and fog of Alzheimer’s, Joan always remembered her heavenly Father. She was not afraid because she knew she was never alone. She lived by this verse in Isaiah, “For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear, I will help you.” Visitation will be at the Powell Funeral Home in Searcy on Tuesday, December 18 from 4:00 until 6:00 pm. Graveside service in Walnut Grove Cemetery in Newport, Arkansas on Wednesday at 10:00 am.

Virginia Joan Helms

March 25, 1939 - December 16, 2018