(Born: 09 March 1923; Died: 21 July 2021)
“Those we love are never really lost to us – we feel them in so many special ways – through friends they always cared about and dreams they left behind, in beauty they added to our days..in words of wisdom we still carry with us and memories that will never be gone… Those we love are never really lost to us – for everywhere their special love lives on.” A. Bradley
The life of Helen Medlock was one of love and devotion to God, family, friends, and her fellow man. She was born in Allen, Texas, March 9, 1923 and raised in Terrell, Texas. Her parents, Levi and Cloteal Gilbert Daniels, were the proud parents of six children. Helen, with her parents’ approval, left home and moved to Dallas to go to school at Booker T. Washington High School in order to get the best education possible. She returned home during her senior year and graduated as Valedictorian of her class at Burnett High School in Terrell, Tx.
Helen moved back to Dallas to work and begin her adult life in the city. She met Fred D. Medlock, Jr., they married, created a union, and had one child, Loretta Ann Medlock Penn. When Loretta left for college, Helen decided she would return to school as well. She enrolled in El Centro College and graduated in 1970 as a Cardiac Care nurse. Helen continued to distinguish herself by being selected as the President of her Class and received the Silver Cap Award for outstanding leadership.
Over a period of eleven years, Helen was a nurse at Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas. After leaving her nursing career, Helen combined her nursing skills and her heart of gold together to become a caregiver for three families whom she loved and adored. In addition to her busy work schedule and taking care of a home and family, Helen began early getting involved in paying it forward. She has an amazing history of selflessness and an ability to express gratitude. Some of her leadership and volunteer initiatives included:
• Sunny Acres – Founder and member of the Board of Directors of the Sunny Acres Community Center in South Dallas, a facility designed to provide services to underserved neighborhood families. Sunny Acres Community Center provided IT skills training, Young Mother’s nutritional and prenatal care, and other various health care services
• Griggs Chapel Baptist Church – President of the Missionary Society (two terms), President of the Deaconess (one term), Benevolent Offering Committee (twenty years), member (over 50 years)
• Dallas Fair Park – managed the Lost and Found for four years on Fair Day
• A Clean South Dallas – helping to engage City services for sanitation and beautification services
• March of Dimes – collecting and raising money for birth defects and immortality for six years
• Dallas Women of Distinction – served as President and raised money for cancer research, donated to Parkland Hospital
• Urban Park Elementary School – School Crossing Guard
• Dallas Fire Station #32 – volunteered to serve Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner
• Brentwood Nursing Home – volunteer, advocate, and leader of philanthropic services for ten years
• Dallas Police Department Volunteer-In-Patrol, Southeast Patrol Division – surveillance services to ensure neighborhood safety for sixteen years
Helen was full of life and made every day count. She was always busy – gardening (“this is where I feel so close to God”), volunteering (“who ever heard of a volunteer being fired?”), involved in all things Griggs Chapel (“the best place this side of heaven”), and caring for her family, telling all of them – young and old – what to do. Everyone listened when she spoke because above all, each person knew she was speaking from the heart and from a loving spirit.
In the early morning hours of July 21, God beckoned for Helen to cross over to the other side, lay down her sword and shield and study war no more. She was obedient and ran safe into His loving arms, fell asleep, and is there to rest until God calls her name on that resurrection day.
Helen is preceded in death by her parents, Levi and Cloteal Gilbert Daniels, her husband, Fred D. Medlock Jr., brothers Marvel, LV, Leonard and JB. Helen is survived by her daughter Loretta Penn (Buddie), sister Lena Sparks (Henry), devoted and beloved nieces and nephews, relatives, and dear friends.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Griggs Chapel Baptist Church 1718 Fargo Street Dallas, Texas 75214, Attention Bill Campbell, in honor of Sister Helen J. Medlock.
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