Mrs. Mildred H Helms Curlee

Mildred was born in 1921 in Wingate, NC to the late Lonnie Alexander Helms and Bessie Hulsey Helms, the tenth of twelve children. After graduating in 1938 from Wingate High School as Salutatorian, she attended Carolina Business School in Charlotte.

Early in her career, Mildred worked at Dunbar Studios in Charlotte and Columbia, SC, as a manager and photographer, and did hand-tinting of beautiful portraits in the years before the availability of color film. She continued her career at the Southeast Regional Offices of Esso/Exxon in Charlotte as a credit representative and supervisor for twenty-five until her retirement.

In 1942, she married William Robert Curlee and they spent sixty-six wonderful years together until his death in 2009. During his career as principal of Thomasboro and Paw Creek Elementary Schools, the couple lived and attended church in both of those communities. Mildred was a member of Thomasboro Presbyterian Church for fifteen years and later of Paw Creek Presbyterian Church for fifty years. She taught childrens’ Sunday School for twenty-five years. At Paw Creek she served in many capacities, including being an Elder and chairman of the Congregational Care Committee. She was also active in the Women of the Church, receiving a Life Membership in recognition of her accomplishments.

In 2003, Mildred and W.R. moved to The Gardens of Taylor Glen, a retirement community in Concord where she enjoyed thirteen happy years.

Mildred will be remembered for her beautiful smile and friendliness, her thoughtfulness and generosity, and her devotion to her faith, family, and friends. She was a wonderful wife, mother, and grandmother whose greatest joy was being “Mimi” to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and spending precious time with them.

Her attention to quality, style, and detail was apparent in all aspects of her life, from her career and church work, to any endeavor she undertook. She was an excellent cook, hostess, seamstress, and gardener. She always put others before herself and used her many talents to enrich the lives of family and friends. Mildred’s faith, courage, and positive attitude in her later years were an inspiration to all who knew and loved her.

Left to cherish her memory are her beloved daughter, Patricia Curlee Black, and husband Tommy of Lexington, NC; granddaughter, Stephanie Black Wilson and husband, Mike of Midlothian, VA; grandson, Trey Black of Los Angeles, CA; and great-grandchildren, Michael and Kate Wilson of Midlothian, VA. Also surviving are her sister, Evelyn Banker of Charlotte; brother-in-law, Dr. Lewis Curlee, and wife, Biu of Concord, NC; and many dear nieces and nephews and their families.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was predeceased by brothers, Homer, Horace, Marvin and Smith Helms, and sisters, Beulah, Agnes, and Florence Helms, and Myrtle Presson.

A celebration of Mildred’s life will be on Monday, August 15, 2016. Friends and family are invited to attend the 10:00am graveside service at Forest Lawn West Cemetery, followed by the 11:00am memorial service at Paw Creek Presbyterian Church, 7400 Mt. Holly Rd., Charlotte, officiated by Rev. Gary Bryant and Rev. Veronica Cannon. A reception and receiving of friends will follow in the Christian Fellowship Center.

The family wishes to express its deepest gratitude to the outstanding nurses and staff at Taylor Glen for the love and care they provided for Mildred; and to Dr. Bernard Reen and Dr. David Tignor for their excellent care over the years.

Memorials in her honor may be made to Paw Creek Presbyterian Church, PO Box 64, Paw Creek, NC 28130.

Arrangements provided by Forest Lawn West Funeral and Cremation Services, 4601 Freedom Dr., Charlotte, NC, (704-395-0055). Condolences may be expressed through forestlawnwest.com