Elsie Arlene Helms

After more than 9 decades as a shining light for her Lord and Savior, Elsie Arlene (Simpson) Helms went peacefully to her heavenly home on November 1, 2022.

Born May 14, 1931, in Monroe, NC, Elsie was the eldest child of Louie Ervin and Velma Broome Simpson. The first of the family’s 12 children, Elsie spent the years of her youth helping to care for many of her younger siblings and working on the family farm. She did not shy away from responsibility, setting an example for her brothers and sisters to obey and respect their parents and to honor family – something she did her entire life.

After graduating from Fairview School, Elsie married Morrison Alexander Helms, who remained her husband for more than 58 years, until his death in 2008. Son Steve Morrison was born in 1951. For her husband and only child, Elsie fostered a strong family unit and home filled with simple yet delicious meals of tomato dumplings, fried potatoes, homemade biscuits and perked coffee. With hospitality as a gift, Elsie welcomed extended family, friends and neighbors to their home regularly to share food and lively conversation.

Elsie’s friendly, engaging manner and wonderful sense of humor made her an excellent employee in the retail arena. At the age of 16, she worked her first job away from the family farm at Belk’s in downtown Charlotte, traveling early morning by bus via a neighbor who drove for the city to work Saturdays. She later managed the Griffin 88 store in Monroe for a number of years, then worked for F. W. Woolworth, and later retired from Delmar Printing Company in Matthews. In addition, she worked with husband Morrison in the formation of his own business in the heating and air industry, and then later in golf cart repairs and service.

Having been raised on a farm, Elsie had a great love for animals, especially horses, and she and Morrison engaged in horse show competitions with son Steve in his teen years. Elsie worked tirelessly alongside husband and son in all facets of the exhibitions, involved in grooming and preparing their horses for competition.

Elsie was a long-time member of First Baptist Church of Indian Trail, active in services and Sunday School for as long as her health and mobility allowed. She loved attending worship and fellowshipping with her church family.

Elsie lived much of childhood and her entire adult life on Lawyers Road in Indian Trail, where she delighted in spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Never one to be idle, she kept her mind active through reading and word search puzzles, and maintained her craft skills well into advanced age by creating beautiful works of Amber Audrey Embroidery for her dear family members.

She leaves a legacy of a life spent simply loving well, a wonderful sense of humor, countless stories of her childhood, and hours sharing wise advice and counsel to her beloved family and friends. The many blessed to be a part of her little corner of the world mourn her passing, but treasure the moments with her and her example of a lifetime of service to all God’s people.

Elsie is preceded in death by her parents, husband Morrison, brothers Louie Aldred “Bud,” Donald Reece “Don,” Vernon Heath, Lowell Bryson, and Warren Mitchell “Mick,” sister-in-law Marlene Carter Simpson, and niece Pamela Simposon Carraway.

She leaves behind her dear son Steve and daughter-in-law Carolyn Mullis Helms; two grandchildren: Chris Helms (wife Julie) and Emily Helms Limer; six great-grandchildren: Allison Helms Kelly (husband Joseph), Garrett Helms (wife Gavynne), Mandoline Helms (husband Darren), Madison Pittman, Meredith Pittman and Isaac Pittman; and two great great-grandchildren, Bristyl Helms and Salem Harlow. She is also survived by one loving brother, Thurman Keith (wife Judy); 5 sweet sisters: Shelby Rash (husband Phil), Pat Monda, Anne Austin (husband Ken), Libby Little Taylor and Sara Furr; sisters-in-law Mary Rachel Simpson, Lib Simpson and Jackie Simpson; and numerous nieces, nephews and other extended family, plus countless friends, including the many she made during her final years at Pruitt Health-Union Pointe in Monroe.

The family will receive friends from 10:30am until 11:45am Friday, November 4, 2022 at First Baptist Church of Indian Trail. A service to celebrate the life of Mrs. Helms will begin at 12:00pm in the church sanctuary. Interment will follow in Price Cemetery. McEwen Funeral Home of Monroe is honored to serve the family of Mrs. Elsie Helms.