HOMERVILLE, Ga. — Jane Ann Anderson Helms, age89, of Homerville, died peacefully on Friday, December 13, 2024.
Mrs. Helms was born on March 15, 1935, in Washington, D.C., to Robert Leo And erson and Edna Malissa Meeks. On April 1, 1955, she married
Helms
Jack Jeffrey Helms, Sr. Jack and Jane first lived in Pearson, Ga., but in 1967, they moved to Homerville.
They had two children, a daughter, Dr. Malissa Pearl Helms of Perth, W. Australia, and a son, Jack Jeffrey (“Jeff”) Helms, Jr. (Cathy) of Homerville; and one grandson, Mrs. Helms’ beloved “Sun, Moon, and Stars” Jack Jeffrey Helms III of Arlington, Va.
Mrs. Helms received her B.A. degree in education from The University of Georgia and taught second grade for 50 years, first at Pearson Elementary School in Pearson, then at Southwood School in Waycross, and then back at Pearson Elementary School, until she retired from teaching in 1999.
However, by that date she already had started her second career as the consummate Southern hostess. In 1989, Mrs. Helms turned her house in Homerville into a bed & breakfast known far and wide as “The Helmstead,” which she successfully ran for more than 30 years.
Mrs. Helms was a very active member of the Homerville/Clinch County community and a tireless cheerleader for her beloved Homerville. She received many awards, but was most proud of being recognized as State of Georgia Main Street Program’s “Volunteer of the Year” in 2013, “Citizen of the Year” by the Clinch County Chamber of Commerce in 2016, and having the Swing-Bed Unit of Clinch Memorial Hospital, which she affectionately called “the Clinch Ritz,” named in her honor in 2023.
For many years, Mrs. Helms was an active member of the Homerville United Methodist Church, and also participated in the Homerville Woman’s Club (past president), Clinch Retired Teachers’ Association, Red Hat Ladies, John Floyd Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and she was an avid — and sharp — bridge player as well as an unabashed lover of all things Elvis Presley.
Mrs. Helms is survived by her two children and grandchild, as well as numerous cousins, one nephew, Andy Foster (Carrie) of Indianapolis, Ind., and countless friends around the globe.
A memorial service will be held Thursday, December 19 at the Homerville United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Homerville United Methodist Church, 202 South Church Street.
Roundtree Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
