Helen Brickell Rhyne

Helen McCall Rhyne, 96, passed away peacefully on February 28, 2024. She was born November 16, 1927 in Charlotte, North Carolina to Cora and Van McCall and grew up as one of seven siblings in the Sharon Acres area of Charlotte, which at that time was countryside. She rode the school bus with Billy Graham.

Helen and her twin sister learned to drive by taking their father’s car into the cow pasture across from the family home and used the stick shift until they felt they were good enough for the roads. She was self reliant and determined.

In 1950, she married Thomas Rhyne, Jr. and they enjoyed a happy, active life filled with family, church, and travel. Always ready for adventure, their early vacations were spent camping, from North Carolina to New York and Florida, first in a tent, then upgrading to a camper, and finally building their own beach house. Although they traveled extensively and visited many countries, the beach house remained their favorite vacation spot where, from the porch, they enjoyed watching boats sail up and down the intercoastal waterway.

Always active in the church, Helen was a Circle and Sunday School Class member for over 40 years. She had a natural gift for music and could play the piano by ear. On summer evenings at home, she would often play classical music of Beethoven when the screen door was open and it could be heard across the neighboring yards.

She was an avid reader, frequented the library, and held numerous subscriptions to books and magazines, and paid close attention to current events. She read the entire 1963 World Atlas Encyclopedia set when the family ordered it.

Helen was an outstanding cook. She created fresh, wholesome meals and did not entertain artificial colors or ingredients long before it was fashionable. Her Christmas cookies, Butterhorn rolls, cakes and pies were legendary, and her Thanksgiving feasts unforgettable. But Helen did enjoy certain restaurant favorites and sought them out as often as possible: eastern North Carolina barbecue, hot Krispy Kreme doughnuts, and fresh fried oysters. Hershey’s chocolate bars were a lifelong favorite.

Helen had many loves in her long life, family members, all the family dogs, and special friends, but most especially her beloved husband Tom. She will be fondly remembered and deeply missed by her family: son Thomas S. Rhyne III (Sharon), daughter Ann Rhyne DiSanto (Rocco), grandchildren Stacy T. Rhyne (Brooks Smith), Rocco M. DiSanto (Collette Corser), Denel Cooper (Mackenzie), Great grandchildren Rebekah, Evelyn, Aiden and Ronan, sister Doris Herbst, and many nieces and nephews.

Memorials may made to Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 2723 Clark Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27607 Or to the charity of one’s choice.