Helen Ruth Westmoreland

Helen, Charlene and James) who were brought up in a loving, close knit southern family. She would often describe her mother as a beautiful, intelligent woman who had hair nearly to her waist. She spoke of her loving and kind personality, describing her as an – Angel on earth. She would tell stories of her giving to her family and

others. She instilled a passion in all her children for learning and hard work...she was an avid reader and a fabulous cook (teaching Mama many of her great dishes). She stated her mother would work hours in their family grocery store and sew to help provide her children the opportunity to attend college. She read Up from Slavery by Booker T Washington and encouraged all her children to pursue educational opportunities. Grandma Ocell passed away at a young age and my mother would always have tears when she spoke of her sweet loving mother. She was also grateful for the life lessons and work ethic taught by her father, Jimmie Folsom, Jr who started multiple businesses and ran the family farm. She would describe his protective nature and she would tell stories of him being loving, but firm, stating he would address any problem with family or neighbors if it affected his children. Mom left home to help her family financially when she was 17 years old – she would lovingly send gifts and money home working up to 40 hours per week while attending high school at Tech to care for Uncle James and Aunt Charlene who were still in elementary and high school in New Albany.

Mama graduated from Arsenal Technical High School later marrying Walter C.

Westmoreland, Sr and had four children, Walter, Jr, Cheryl, Derrick, and Michael). Life in the Westmoreland household was full of fun and while both mom and dad worked hard there was always time for fun and laughter. She was employed at Eli Lilly and Company for 28 years often working 2-3 jobs at once to help with the costs of school activities and educational expenses …. she, like her mother, truly believed education was important for growth and success. At our house food was a celebration, often mom would come home from work and make a coconut cake from scratch after cooking a full dinner. We never left for school without a huge breakfast and we always had dinner together. There were family visits with cousins, games, visits to the park and the zoo as well as the Children’s Museum. There were basketball games, high school and those in our drive on 34th street - with pizza or burgers on Friday. We were a blended family – the Williamson family, the Folsom’s, Collins’, cousins by marriage would stop in and meals were always delicious. There were hair dates with Aunt Mary and visits to our numerous cousins in Mississippi. Life was so full and Mama was at the center of our world!

Mama was proud of her family and loved to visit with them often traveling to San Francisco to see Aunt Charlene (she was proud to say on one trip she donated a

kidney to Aunt Charlene-per her renal team … it is believed she was the first African

American living donor from Indiana). The doctor who performed the transplant was a world renowned African American Fulbright Scholar who pioneered renal transplant, Dr Samuel Lee Kountz, Jr. from Stanford University Medical Center. Later, even after she was also in kidney failure from a medication reaction, she stated ‘I would do it again for my sister Charlene!’). It must have been destiny that she encouraged me to go into medicine – often stating ‘….we need more Black doctors...’ then she sent me (Cheryl) off to Stanford University and Michael and Derrick to Eli Lilly-a Pharmaceutical Company. When I had second thoughts about going so far from home - both Mama and Michael stated ‘Stanford made you an offer you cannot refuse’… so with the love and support of family, I was sent to California but I was not alone as Sharon and Aunt Charlene were my family away from home. Michael became our family leader as I went off to medical school and residency. He would work a full job in leadership at Lilly and then help his nieces and nephews. Walter and Derrick were her “on call” for son duties and often helped her cook….Mom later retired to help take care of Alex (born 1 pound 13 ounces, a preemie). She said she knew he was going to make it with God and her!! She was also very busy with her other grandchildren who just called her -MOM. Jennifer (Derrick’s daughter), Tshana and Walter III all had lives that revolved around our home and mother. She also had her bonus children: Mario Folsom, Sylvia Harris Tandy (Tshana’s mother), James Perry-other cousins, as well as of our friends - she treated us as one family.

Mama had a generous donor for her own kidney transplant at St Vincent Hospital by Dr A Wee. She was so grateful to her doctors and cardiologists: Dr M Khan, Dr Pitts and Dr Prystowsky – they treated her with kindness and compassion…. she also had many incredible friends during her years in Indianapolis each played a role and a BLESSING in her life and she never forgot anyone who touched her life. She would pray for all each and every day. She accepted Christ at an early age at St Mary’s Methodist Church. Each day she spoke of her FAITH and lived her life of Christian values. On October 10, 2021, she gained her heavenly wings.