Helen Clark Poythress

Helen C. Poythress, mother, grandmother, friend, and faithful servant went peacefully home to her Lord and Savior on January 31, 2024.

Helen was born on February 22, 1929, in Henderson, North Carolina, the youngest of eight children of Augusta and J.L. Clark. Upon graduation from high school, she began her work life in Henderson as a telephone operator. After marriage, moving to Raleigh, and having three children, Helen began part-time work at Wachovia Bank as a switchboard operator, ultimately spending 30 years with the bank in customer service.

A talented gardener, Helen spent the majority of her retirement in her yard tending her huge peonies and beautiful lawn, and even performing her own oil changes on her riding lawnmower. She particularly enjoyed line dancing with the Whitaker Mill Steppers as they performed at the North Carolina State Fairs, retirement facilities, and community functions around Raleigh. Believe it or not, Helen enjoyed years of water aerobics after retirement! She was proud to be a champion Wii bowler on the team at Whispering Pines, where she resided her last six years.

Grandma Helen was a dedicated grandmother and known to be quite competitive. She loved teaching her grandsons the art of card playing. As the boys got older and fine tuned their skills, she often joked that they would "cheat." Despite her losses, Helen cherished every hand.

Upon the arrival of her first grandchild, Grandma Helen was quick to volunteer her services to be the number one babysitter, keeping Christine a day or two each week while mom worked.

Helen was also a devoted daughter to her mother, Augusta Clark (Granny), taking Granny into her home for many, many years of faithful care. As children, we were blessed to live with our grandmother who embodied a quiet, calm, faith-filled presence that influenced us all.

Attention to detail was another one of Helen's attributes as she never left a hair out of place, was immaculately dressed down to her necklace and earrings.

Above all, Helen was a faithful member at Temple Baptist Church in Raleigh. She walked the walk. Special thanks to Doris Dickerson and the Temple Baptist family who called regularly and kept Helen in their prayers.

The Poythress Family would like to express sincere gratitude to extended family who faithfully remained in touch with Helen after her move to Whispering Pines... visits and calls from Robin (Shane) Bjorling and the twins Kayla and Kimberly and their children; Jim and Eileen Harris; W.C. "Snookem" Abbott; Janet Clark Best; and those fabulous, caring, loving cards and calls from Bobby and Sandra Clark... she felt your love and emotion in every pen stroke.

Also special thanks to lifelong Henderson friends Edna Nunnery and Ferbie Weldon for their support and love.

Helen is survived by her three children, Denise (Steve) Shamblin, Amy Poythress, and Preston (Joan) Poythress, and her grandchildren Christine (Chris) Clemmer, Dylan Poythress, Austin (Kori) Poythress, and Mason (Sam) Poythress, and two great-grandchildren Eleanor and Austin Clemmer.

A funeral service for Helen will be held on Tuesday, February 6th, 2024, at Bryan Lee Funeral Home, 831 Wake Forest Road, Raleigh, North Carolina 27604. Visitation from 12 pm to 1 pm, Service from 1 pm to 2 pm, immediately followed by a graveside ceremony at Raleigh Memorial Park.