DATE: Sunday, June 22, 1997                 TAG: 9706220004

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B7   EDITION: FINAL 

DATELINE: COMO                              LENGTH:   35 lines

HELEN W. WHITLEY

Helen Worrell Whitley died June 21, 1997, at Southampton Memorial Hospital's East Pavilion, Franklin, Va.

Born Feb. 9, 1908, a daughter of the late Annie Fowler and Lockey Thomas Worrell of Como, Hertford County, N.C., she was predeceased by her husband, Jim A. Whitley; her brother, Lynwood R. Worrell; a sister, Mildred Worrell Brett; little sister, Dorothy, and nephew, Donald T. Brett.

She was a past member of Sunbeam Baptist Church, joining New Hope Baptist Church in 1927 after her marriage. Since the closing of New Hope Church in 1982, she has retained her membership at Mount Horeb Methodist Church. At the New Hope Church, she served as pianist/organist, youth Sunday School teacher and president of the Women's Society of Christian Service. She and her husband were merchants in Como before retiring to their farm home.

She is survived by a nephew, Jerry W. Brett; four great-nieces, Donna B. Francis, Tracy B. Pearce, Michelle B. Black and Jerri-Kaye Brett; two great-great-nephews, Nathan Brett Pearce and Tanner Francis; a great-great-niece Lauren Pearce of Murfreesboro; two brothers-in-law, Robert H. Whitley of Portsmouth, Frank Irvin Whitley of Franklin; several cousins; her guardians, Sarah, and Marvin Worrell; and a host of relatives and friends. She also leaves her devoted roommate, Mrs. Sarah E. Bradshaw, resident companions, nurses, doctors and staff at Southampton Memorial Hospital's East Pavilion, where she had lived for the past eight years.

A service will be held at 2:30 p.m. Monday in Holland-Rideout Funeral Home Chapel, Franklin, with burial in Poplar Springs Cemetery. The Rev. Derek Koolman, pastor of Mount Horeb Methodist Church and the Rev. Kenneth Williams, pastor of Sunbeam/Newsoms Baptist Church will conduct the services. The family will receive friends from 3:30 to 5 p.m. at the funeral home. KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY

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