Helen Smith

Daughter, Sister, Wife, Mother, Aunt, Grandmother, and Educator Helen Louis George was born in Chillicothe, Ohio in 1930 to Monroe and Henrietta George. In the midst of the Great Depression, Helen’s birth year was a time of struggle and survival for people around the world. As a result, Helen grew up with a keen awareness of the importance of education, and began to develop her gifts in writing and reciting poetry. Her brothers and sisters, Edward (Chink), Lloyd, Robert (Bobby), Charles Smacky, and Kathryn (Katz), were all supportive of her dreams and ambitions. Helen was proud to be from Chillicothe, Ohio and those who got to know her found out real soon how proud she was. When she was just a teenager, she accepted the Adventist message after visiting her brother and sister-in-law in California. Once she discovered this new relationship with Christ, she never wavered from her faith in Him. One of Helen's favorite bible verses was, " In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." (Proverbs 3:6). One of those paths led her to Oakwood College. Consistent with the belief fostered in childhood regarding the importance of education, Helen’s insatiable desire to earn a college degree inspired her to work hard to sell magazines to pay for an education at Oakwood University. One day, as she was sweeping the outside of her dormitory at Oakwood, Helen spotted a handsome upper classman planting shrubbery not far away. As John Smith busied himself with landscaping on the outside, inside he was completely distracted by the sight of this beautiful woman. The two began a conversation, and soon became friends; however, that union was not yet to be. Once she graduated from Oakwood, Helen’s path veered in another direction leading her to the University of Pittsburgh, where she earned a Master’s Degree in Education. Subsequently she accepted a teaching position at Ramah Junior Academy in Cleveland, Ohio. Finally, she was fulfilling her lifelong dream of gaining her education. Then, as life would have it, The Lord led Helen back to John. While attend a General Conference Session in Cleveland they met once again and fell in love. Their first home together was in Dallas, Texas where John was pastoring. After a short time there together, they decided to relocate to a church in Toledo, Ohio, where Helen would be closer to her hometown of Chillicothe. Their family continued to blossom in 1963 when she gave birth to her first son, Jonathan and the joy of motherhood began. The growing demand for John continued as he received calls to pastor churches on the east coast. Helen had no clue that being a pastor’s wife required such demands in moving! Without any complaints, she would faithfully pack up and go where her husband was called. The next church was in Philadelphia in 1966, and there she would have son number 2, Jerrud. Even though she always wanted a little girl, both sons were her pride and joy. While raising two sons in Philadelphia, she not only taught at Cheyney State University, but found time to write a play called, “Down By The Riverside.” This play was about slaves that met by the riverside to share their experiences and pain by singing spiritual songs to help comfort themselves. The play was performed in many churches, including those pastored by John: Washington DC, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, and Columbus Ohio. In 1984 John had the opportunity to move to Columbus, and Helen once again had the chance to be close to her home. She was able to secure a teaching position in Early Childhood Education at Columbus State Community College and was finally able to retire in early 2000. The 1990s were “Golden Years,” and it was during this period that she experienced the birth of her 1st Grandson, Justin and her Granddaughter, Lauren. They were the light of her life, and life was great! She was able to experience the love of being a grandmother, and enjoyed the grandkids fondly calling her, “Oma” (German) for Grandma. Helen enjoyed her retirement and was able to finish writing her two books, “How Could I Get Home When the Road was Crooked,” and “Rush George.” Unfortunately, these books were in the process of being published when Helen’s life began to change as a result of her health degenerating. During this time the family noticed Helen was starting to repeat things and forgetting how to get home while driving. In 2006 she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, which is a debilitating disease of the brain. Our family watched and prayed as mom’s brilliant mind dwindled progressively. We eventually had to put a lock on the front door so she wouldn’t go outside and wander during the night. But where there’s a great woman there’s also a great man, and her husband, John, who she had faithfully supported during his career, determined in addition to being her caregiver, to truly love her as he cared for her. He would wake her up every day and would clean, feed, bathe, walk, and talk to her, which gave her great comfort. Although he had the chance to bring in private nurses for a few hours a day, he knew nobody could take care of her the way he did. As time went on, the real pain we all felt when she didn’t remember our names was totally devastating. However, we felt joy in the fact that even though she forgot our names, the only name she never forgot was Jesus and her favorite bible verse, "In all thy ways acknowledge him." In May of 2015 Helen had a series of strokes and went to the hospital for a few months, and at this point doctors were sending in a priest to give her the last rights. But, due to prayers from relatives, friends, pastors, she got better and was finally committed to a nursing home where she struggled to stay with us. Her caregiver, John, would drive up to see her at the nursing home twice each day allowing her to listen to music and just to be with her. Rain, sleet, and snow, John was always by her bedside. These past few years God allowed Helen to be with us a little longer, and she herself fought and struggled to stay alive just a little longer. However, on November 15th at 2:41am God decided it was time for Helen to rest where she is suffering no more. Helen has always had the brightest smile and would light up a room wherever she was, and just loved people. She and John would open up the doors to their home when people needed a place to stay, and Helen never knew a stranger. If she saw a neighborhood kid without a coat during the cold Winter she would go out and buy one. She will be terribly missed until the Lord comes back to get us. We are glad to know her struggle is over, and the next thing she will see is the glory of the Lord. Helen is preceded in death by: Monroe Alonzo George – Father Henrietta Harrison George – Mother Edward “Chink” George – Brother Lloyd “Squeeky” George – Brother Robert “Bobby” George - Brother Charles “Smacky” George - Brother Kathryn “Katz” Locklear - Sister Paul Locklear - Nephew Survived by: John C. Smith – Husband Jonathan Smith – Son Jerrud Smith – Son Julia Smith - Daughter-in-law Justin Smith – Grandson Lauren Smith – Granddaughter Kim Locklear – Niece Keith “Buzz” Locklear – Nephew Kristy Locklear – Niece Kerri Locklear – Niece Kray Locklear – Nephew Linda Tregle -Niece Brenda Tregle Tucker – Niece Sandy Tregle - Niece Charles “Chuck” Tregle Plus numerous Great Nieces, Nephews, and Cousins