Helen Margaret White

Helen Margaret White began her earthly sojourn in Memphis, Tennessee

on Monday, December 5th, 1932. She was the eldest of three children. Her

parents, Coy Williams and Fredonia M. Wilson, and her brother, Clarence

Arbry Williams, preceded her in death.

She was lovingly called Margaret by all in her generation and Aunt

Margaret by all her nieces and nephews. She was an exceptional big sister

and took pride in being such. Growing up, Margaret enjoyed combing her

little sister Cora’s hair. When you saw Margaret, you saw Cora, as she took

Cora with her almost everywhere she went.

Helen attended the Shelby County School district and was a member of

the Manassas High School graduating class of 1950. She met and married

Charlie White that same year. He preceded her in death.

In 1957 Helen moved to Cleveland, Ohio in search of better economic

opportunities for herself and her children. She was a hard worker with

good communication skills. Early in her career, Helen demonstrated her

potential for leadership through her ability to work well with people. Her

first experience in management was at Bobbie Brooks Clothing where she

worked for 10 years. Starting as a presser, she became a supervisor within

a short time. She was even Cora’s supervisor for a while! She remained in

that role until leaving to assume a supervisory position in environmental

services at University Hospitals in the mid 1970’s. In 1985 due to health

issues, she left UH and attended Tri-C college for 2 years. In 1987 Helen

was employed by Goodwill industries in their Cleveland corporate facility

as a trainer in their housekeeping program. She was known for her patience

and ability to work with the most difficult to train. This reputation led to

her becoming the 1st manager of Goodwill Industries Contract Services for

persons with developmental disabilities in 1993. Under her leadership, this

program soon became a trusted resource for placement of severely disabled

persons supported by the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental

Disabilities. She retired from Goodwill Industries in December of 1999.

Helen’s mother and aunt, Annie Fant were women of strong faith and

deeply influenced on her values through the years. While not very active

in the church in her early adult years, she required her children to attend

the family church until they were old enough to make their own decisions

about spiritual matters. She was an active member of Pentecostal Church

of Christ from the early 1980’s until the late 1990’s. Afterwards she briefly

attended the Victoria Church, and in 2006 Helen became a proud member

of the Gethsemane Church of Christ where she remained as a church

mother until her death. Through everything, “The one consistency was her

love for the Lord”, states Leonard.

Family was extremely important to her, and she was extremely important

to them. One thing her children agree on is that she “could burn in the

kitchen”. Each has favorite dishes, but all of them loved her sweet potato

pies. With a smile, Charlotte said, “She could take breakfasts and turn them

into the best dinners! Her grits were the best!”

Although she wasn’t a sports fanatic, she did enjoy listening to the Cavaliers

on the radio during the team’s early years. This became special family time

as her children would also listen while she cooked their meals. By the time

Sherry was a teenager, she was helping fix those meals with her mom. “We

got our first color television in 1966” recalled James. Once the T.V. was in the

home, other sports like football and baseball were integrated into family

time. Most of the family became Cleveland sports fanatics.

For Helen, holidays were special and she worked to make her most favorite

holiday, Christmas, special for her children. When they were young, the

day was shared with extended family members at the home of her aunt,

Annie Fant. But as her children married and had children of their own, the

tradition shifted with them gathering at her home for Thanksgiving dinner

or Christmas breakfast and/or dinner. Joe reminisced, “She loved a chance

to give to others.” When the word ‘Thanksgiving’ is mentioned, however,

Leonard could only utter, “Her dressing!!!”

In 1991, Charlotte and her mother, who was now living with chronic health

issues, began sharing a home together. During their 1st years back together,

Helen did the cooking, which was fine with Charlotte because her mother’s

skills were still intimidating. But as her mother’s health declined, Charlotte

was forced to regularly prepare meals. One of her proudest moments is

when her mother said, “You’ve become a good cook.”

She supported her children in school, work, and play. “She loved all of

our friends, and they loved her,” states Sherry. Helen encouraged pursuing

educational opportunities that could afford her children the best opportunity

for good lives. She set values that encouraged good work ethics. Ronald,

James, Joe and Leonard had paper routes and other part-time jobs prior to

graduating from high school and everyone held a job after graduating high

school regardless of pursuing college or other forms of educational training.

Helen knew what it meant to be a good neighbor and showed it through

the way she treated people around her. “She was a sweet and loving person

all of her life,” said Cora. “She was a giant!” boasted her daughter Doris.

Throughout her personal and work life, she evidenced a strong spirit of

advocacy and concern for those around her. After retirement, she had

family and friends that she did “phone checks” on regularly and she called

each of her children every day until poor vision and memory combined to

make it impossible. This spirit was also seen in her six years as a resident

at the Judson Park Bruehing Center. As long as her health allowed, she was

a member of the Resident’s Council. She did not hesitate to speak up in

behalf of herself and her peers on matters she believed important. One of

the caregivers shared with family that news of her death “went viral” among

the staff because she was well known and loved by many.

Helen took her last breath right before 11am on Saturday, September 25,

2021. Whether you called her Ma, Granny, Margaret, Helen or Ms. White,

we who remain each have special memories of her that will go with and

support us in the days ahead. May we all work to continue her legacy of

love and kindness toward one another and those around us.

Her absence will be deeply felt by her sister Cora Mae Williams Stewart;

her sister-in-law, Shirley Williams; her children: Charlotte, James (Renee),

Joe, Leonard, Sherry, and Doris; her grandchildren: Tony Kyler, Angela

Sweeney, Steve White, Allen White, Tracey Willis, Misty Belfrom, Paul

White, Will Scott, Brianna White, Leonard White, Jr., and Richard White;

daughters-in-love: Cheryl, Marva and Jackie; fourteen great-grandchildren,

one great, great-grandchild, and a myriad of beloved nieces, nephews,

cousins, and dear friends.

She was also proceeded in death by her beloved child, son, Ronald Williams

and granddaughter Bianca White, and dear friend, George Finley.