Helen Brickman

19, 2024, just six weeks shy of her 98th birthday. While we are saddened to lose our beloved mother,

grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and loyal friend, we are relieved that she is now released from

the pain and discomfort that marked her last few years and caused a drastic change of lifestyle for her.

Helen was born on March 1, 1926 in East Orange, New Jersey and grew up in Maplewood, New Jersey.

She attended Lasell Jr. college in Auburndale, MA for one year and then transferred to Ohio State

University in Columbus, Ohio to study Occupational Therapy. It was there that she met the love of her

life at a fraternity dance, Thomas L. Brickman. She once said she knew after their first dance that he

might be “the one”! He was! They married in 1948.

After Tom finished his master’s degree in forestry at Michigan State University, his first job brought them

to the south and they settled in their first home in Rome, Georgia. This is also where their first child,

Tommy, was born. A few years later they moved to Gadsden, Alabama, where Laura was born and by

1956 they built a house in Birmingham where Leslie was born. Tom and Helen never left the Birmingham

area, except for a few years in Anniston, AL.

Helen was an amazing woman on many levels. Together with Tom, they created a warm, loving and

stable home. Their love for each other and their life together was a pattern for their children. They

imparted many ideals and values to them simply by example. It was idyllic in many ways. Helen exhibited

her resilience after the untimely death of Tom, when she was only 49. She continued to be an

unwavering and unconditional presence in the lives of her children and grandchildren until it was no

longer possible. They were the joy of her life.

A registered Occupational Therapist, she worked with physically impaired children in the Birmingham

school system (Epic School) for 22 years. Helen made friends wherever she went, whether it was at the grocery store or in the neighborhood. Over the years, she presided over several garden clubs, sang in church choirs and enjoyed membership in several dance clubs. She remembered birthdays and used any excuse to dress up and celebrate! She enjoyed entertaining, classical music, playing the piano, gardening and…yes, shopping! She traveled all over the world with her dear friend, Grover S. McLeod.

Helen was preceded in death by her loving husband, Thomas L. Brickman, her mother, Anna R. Mabbs,

her father, Ralph I. Mabbs, her brother Ralph R. Mabbs, and her brother Edward C. Mabbs. She is

survived by her children, Thomas R. Brickman (Beth) of Hoover, Alabama, Laura L. Mooney (Ken) of

Urbana, Illinois and Leslie B. Wingo (Mike) of Vestavia, Alabama. She is also survived by her loving

grandchildren, Daniel Brickman (Lydia Pollard), Julie Brickman (Arun Rao), Alan Bajandas, Carl Bajandas

(Gillian Preston), Nathan Bajandas (Mollie), Joanna Bajandas Weaver (Bobby), Ashley Wingo, Wilson

Wingo (Sarah), and grandchildren by marriage, Katie Bates (Allison Brice) and Taylor Bates. She is also

survived by numerous nieces, nephews and 3 great granddaughters.

We’d like to offer special thanks to the Brookdale Skilled Nursing staff on the South Wing for their

excellent care and loving attention to Mom during her stay there.

There will be a graveside service on Tuesday, January 23 at 11 A.M at Elmwood Cemetery, 600 Martin

Luther King Jr. Drive, Birmingham, 35211.

Services are under the direction of Ridout's Valley Chapel (205.879.3401) in Homewood.