Helen June Chester

Born on June 2, 1941, she was the second of three daughters of Allie Mae Wilks Chester and Marvin Chester, both now deceased. Following graduation from high school and beauty school, she joined her older sister, Jeanne, in the New Orleans area until her retirement. The two of them were inseparable and made their home together, off and on for years. It wasn’t long before they met Lana Duke, who became their lifelong friend and “adopted sister”. They spent most of their holidays and many vacations together, along with Lana’s son, David, who thought of them as his aunts. Although she adopted the lifestyle of New Orleans, she was a country girl at heart, never forgot her roots, and loved cooking the fare of her Alabama upbringing. Helen enjoyed a successful career as a hair stylist. She had her own salon at one time and had a following wherever she set up shop. Helen was always smartly dressed but loved her “bling” and wore it well. She never married, but it was not for lack of suitors or proposals. But near the time she retired in 2019, she reconnected with her high school sweetheart and one time fiancé, Ledell Sparks, who by then was a widower, and turned out to be the love of her life. They lived in both Henagar, AL, and his home in Ft. Payne. A lifelong Christian, her service will be held on Thursday, May 9, 2024, at 10:30 am, in the Fertel-Duke Mausoleum on Bell Avenue in Metairie Cemetery, where her sister Jeanne is also entombed. Msgr. Bob Massett will be officiating. Helen is survived by her beloved and very close baby sister, Paulette Hicks, her niece, nephew, and numerous first cousins, with whom she shared a close relationship over the years.

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers contributions to Raintree Children & Family Services located at 1233 8th Street New Orleans LA 70115.