Margaret Ellafayr Presley Helms

April 30, 2021

Margaret Ellafayr Presley Helms, age 90, of Molino entered eternal life on Saturday, April 24, 2021.

Preceded in death by her parents Daniel and Marjorie Presley and her sister Edna Richards, she is survived by her husband of 72 years Thomas F. Helms, Sr.; her children Marjan Helms, Thomas F. Helms, Jr., and Kathy Starkey (Ron); her grandson Brian Starkey (Trish); her nieces Bonnie Ging (Jake), Jeanie Nowlin (Bill), Becky Carlsen (Kurt), Ann Helms and Jeff Helms.

Margaret truly loved life and lived her ninety years with grace and dignity, gentleness,generosity, and good humor. She loved others deeply and was passionately devoted to her family and friends, to her students and those with whom she studied. To create and maintain a beautiful, welcoming home filled with music and laughter and sustained by compassionate listening was her lifelong joy. She thrived on being outside in the natural world, especially
sitting beside the Gulf, watching the waves and sky. She adored animals and delighted in having her hands deep in the soil—tending her plants, working in her greenhouse, pruning her roses and coral vines. Margaret will be missed terribly and yet celebrated for years to come by those who knew her and were blessed by her fiercely loyal friendship and warm heart. Second only to her family was her love for her church—first Molino Methodist, then Aldersgate, and finally, for the last forty-five years, her beloved community at First Church in Pensacola. This church symbolized and exemplified all that she held most dear—love of God, joy in service to others, rigorous study and intellectual nourishment, artistic refinement, and, above all, peace and blessing in the communion of faith. May the angels welcome her to Paradise.

A memorial service will be held Thursday, April 29, 2021 at 2 PM, in the Abbey of First United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers the family requests that contributions be made to Ruth’s Kitchen at First United Methodist Church of Pensacola.

Comments

One Response to “Margaret Ellafayr Presley Helms”

  1. John A. Smith (Johnny) on May 3rd, 2021 6:25 pm

    Mrs. Helms was from the greatest time and was a truly wonderful lady. Although I haven’t see her in over 50 years I still remember what a sweet lady she was. Growing up in Molino was a great thing and people like Mrs. Helms made it that way.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under Obituaries