Opal Goodwin Helms

Quincy – Opal Goodwin Helms, 100, passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 28, 2015, at her residence. Born on November 7, 1915, in Hatley, she was the daughter of Claude and Mattie Benton Robertson.

Opal attended Hatley High School and graduated from Becker School in 1933. She was much loved and married two wonderful men during her lifetime, Huey Goodwin and J.T. Helms. She was also blessed with two daughters, Julia and Sara and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Opal loved God, was very strong in her Christian Faith, and was a faithful member of Trinity Baptist Church. She started working at the Amory Garment Factory when it opened. She worked the night shift and was a dedicated worker. She retired from there and went right back to work at McDonalds as the much beloved biscuit maker. Opal was a fantastic cook and she retired from McDonalds in 1986.

She enjoyed cooking lunch for her family and homebound people. She made wonderful Sunday dinners for her family. In her free time, she loved listening to Gospel music, crocheting, gardening and working with flowers. She also liked working crossword puzzles, sewing, and traveling, especially her trip to England. She set a wonderful example for everyone that was blessed to know her. She loved everyone and helped others as often as she could. She even worked in the church nursery until she was 95 years old! She will be dearly missed but we know she is rejoicing in heaven with her loved ones.

Survivors include her daughter, Julia McNeese (Clinton), Quincy; step-daughter, Conetta Helms, Amory; grandchildren, Teresa Ware (Tony), Dewayne McNeese (Karen), Tim McNeese, Kim Renfro (Dennis), Kevin McNeese; great-grandchildren, Taylor and Trevor Ware; Shayla and Matt McNeese; Drake, Hunter, and Hannah McNeese; Laykan, Lindsey and Logan Renfro; Renee Black; many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husbands, Huey Goodwin and J.T. Helms; her daughter, Sara Goodwin Bishop.

Her Funeral Service will be held at 2 PM, Tuesday, December 1, 2015, at E. E. Pickle Funeral Home, Amory, with Bro. Ray Ware, Bro. Jack Dauphin, and Bro. Lloyd Minor officiating. Burial will follow in Durrett Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Ricky Chaney, Joe Reeves, Tommy Renfro, Wade Minor, Donnie Manasco, and Boyd Duncan. Honorary pallbearers will be Jackie McNeese, Jimmy Hurley, Ralph Reeves, Bruce Carter, and Cliff Tubb.

Visitation will be from 1 PM until the service hour at the funeral home.

Memories and condolences may be shared with her family at EEPickleFuneralHome.com.