Helen B. Wilkes

She is survived by her loving and devoted husband, Hector Rodriguez, and many nieces and nephews. Helen is the last survivor of her siblings, Robert Fulton Barbour, Mary Barbour Locke, Lucille Barbour Jarrell, Ruth Barbour Thomson and Fred Barbour.

Helen was born in Ft. Valley, Georgia and came to West Palm Beach as a young RN and established the Helen Wilkes Nursing Home which grew to 85 beds before it was sold. She bought a worn down hotel on Flagler Drive and after renovations it was opened as the Helen Wilkes Residence Hotel, which operated for more than 30 years until it was razed in 2005.

Helen was a savvy business woman and became the first female Mayor of the town of West Palm Beach in 1978. She served as a City Commissioner for 12 years from 1976 until 1988. Helen was an avid animal lover and served as Vice President of Animal Support Kindness and Kinship. She left behind her beloved dogs Miss Chi Chi and Baby and many dear friends.

Helen was a true southern belle, a treasure to the community and will be dearly missed by all who were blessed enough to know her.

Friends may be received from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM, Sunday, October 11, 2015 at Quattlebaum Funeral, Cremation and Event Center, 5411 Okeechobee Blvd. West Palm Beach, FL 33417. A Celebration of Helen’s Life will be held at 2:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, the family would ask that donations be made to St. Jude Children Research Hospital, 5201 Blue Lagoon Dr. #650, Miami, FL 33126, StJude.org.