Helen Joyce Semedo

Helen Semédo was born, Helen Joyce Wright on July 30, 1940 in Tavener, Texas, which is located between Rosenberg and East Bernard, TX, approximately 50 miles west of Houston, Texas. She was the daughter of Eddie L. Wright and Beatrice Dorsey. She departed this life on April 27, 2022. She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald R. Semédo.

She was reared by her Grandparents, Elmo and Sarah Ann Jones Wright. Helen and her Grandparents moved from East Bernard, Texas to Houston, Texas in 1948. They lived in the subdivision of Acres Homes. Helen attended George Washington Carver Elementary, and George Washington Carver High School in (Acres Homes) Houston, Texas where she graduated valedictorian in 1958. She attended Texas Southern University in Houston and Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, Texas. Helen had three (3) children, Angela, Norris, Jr., and Argant who were born during her first marriage to Norris E. Hardison, Sr.

When she wasn’t working on her full time job and attending to the needs of her family, Helen was acting. She was a member of an acting company under the direction of Loretta Devine at the Black Arts Repertory Theater in Houston in 1972. She received a good review for playing the lead role in Ron Miner’s Broadway Play, “Who’s Got His Own”.

Helen and her children moved to San Antonio, Texas in 1975. She married Donald R. Semédo in 1977. No children were born during their marriage.

Helen was very active in the community in San Antonio. She was a volunteer in numerous organizations. She was appointed to the Mayor’s Commission on the Status of Women by Councilwoman Helen Dutmer to serve as Commissioner representing City Council District (3) in 1985. She served as Secretary and Vice Chairperson. Helen was also appointed by Mayor Henry G. Cisneros to serve as the City Of San Antonio 1987-1988 General Chairperson of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial City-County Commission which was charged with the responsibility of planning and implementing a City/County Wide Celebration in Honor of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.. On June 18, 1989 Helen was selected Sunday Woman by the San Antonio Light Newspaper for her Community Involvement. She was Third Runner-up out of 52 women for Woman of the Year.

Helen was musically inclined and very creative. She wrote, directed, produced and published a Record Album entitled “Try Love” and a Music Video entitled “My Special Love”. She released them on her own Record Label, Helen Semédo Unlimited. Unpublished songs that she also wrote are: Let Me Love You, No I Do Stuff For Me and Expression of Pure Love. Helen also designed clothing for herself for special occasions, and acquired a patent in 1978 for earrings she designed.

Helen retired as a Program Administrator from the Texas Employment Commission in San Antonio, Texas on July 31, 1995 after 29 years 7 months and 11 days of service. During the early part of the year 2004, Helen Semedo began to wrIte novels. She wrote one full length novel entitled: In Their Absence, and two novelettes entitled: Exile, and Identically Different.

On November 22, 2010, Helen was a 70-year old widow, when she left San Antonio, Texas to search for a small dwelling place in the countryside. She lived in her car during her search---she crisscrossed the country. During her journey, she provided financial assistance to many people. She lived in her car two years, one month, and 24 days before she was led to a one-room cottage in the countryside of a small town in Texas. Helen continued to provide people with financial assistance after she stopped living in her car. Some of Helen’s friends continuously encouraged her to write the story about her life while living in her car—and after four years of ignoring them—she finally wrote the story.

The Joys Helen shared in life will be warmly and fondly remembered by many. She was preceded in death by her husband Donald Semedo and her son Norris Hardison, Jr.. She is survived by her children, Angela Hardison and Argant Hardison; her grandchildren, Kevin Jackson, Herman Whitfield, Argant Hardison, Jr., and others; her Sister Brenda J. Dorsey; as well as great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. Her nephew, Rev. Bernard Chris Dorsey, who she inspired and supported throughout his life, is the officiant for her home-going celebration.

A visitation for Helen will be held Friday, May 13, 2022 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Paradise Funeral Home, 10401 West Montgomery, Houston, TX 77088. A funeral service will occur Friday, May 13, 2022 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM, 10401 West Montgomery, Houston, TX 77088. A committal service will occur Friday, May 13, 2022 from 12:30 PM to 1:00 PM at Paradise Cemetery North, 10401 West Montgomery, Houston, TX 77088.