Helen Joyce (Kennedy) Smith

May 27, 1947 - Sept. 23, 2008

SOUTH BEND — Helen Joyce (Kennedy) Smith, 61, of 518 South Lombardy Drive, departed this life on September 23rd. Helen was born to the union of Purvis Kennedy Sr.and Freddie Lee (Thompson) Kennedy. Helen was born in McCool, MS;she came to South Bend at the age of three months old.

Helen attended Harrison Elementary as well as Washington High School, where she graduated in the class of 1966.Helen was employed at Honeywell Global for 38 years from which she retired.Helen also held a position of an officer at the Amvets Post 66, president of the women’s auxiliary, which she loved and cherished very much.Helen also worked part-time at the St.Joseph County Public Library in the special services dept.where she enjoyed delivering books to the elderly and shut-ins. Helen was a very loving and giving person, she will be truly missed by everyone who know her.

On March 16, 1985, Helen was united in marriage to Mr. Willie “Mack” Smith.She leaves behind to mourn for her parents, Mr.and Mrs.Purvis Kennedy Sr.;a daughter, Fran Denise Ann Kennedy of South Bend;a stepson Rodney Michael Smith of Phoenix, AZ;two sisters, Bobbie J.(Abraham) Potts of Detroit, MI, and Cathy B.Lewis of South Bend; two granddaughters, Ashley Renee Shaw and Taira Alexis Shadawn Kennedy, both of South Bend; two step-granddaughters, Miguaela Smith and Ranijiah Smith, both of South Bend;two great-grandsons, D’Marco Shaw and Tobias Shaw, both of South Bend;two nieces, Carmen L. (Timothy) Ruffing of Ft. Wayne, IN, Theresa Y Johnson of South Bend; two nephews, Thorn L. Lewis of Niles, MI, Dion L. Johnson of South Bend, IN;aunts, Agnes Ashford of Detroit, MI, Dairy Sykes and Katherine Moore, both from Memphis, TN;and an uncle, Samuel Kennedy of McCool, MS;five great- nieces, seven great- nephews and a great- great-nephew.

Helen was preceded in death by her two little brothers, Graydell Kennedy and Purvis”Bo Jack”Kennedy Jr.;a great- granddaughter, LaRaya Shaw;and a nephew, John W.Johnson Sr.

And special thanks to her close girlfriends who were there in her time of need, Annabell Buckley, Lula Anderson, Billie Richmond, all of South Bend, Mary Chapman of Des Moines, IA, Ruthie McClain of Denver, CO; and the staff of Memorial Hospital and Blackthorn.

Services for Helen Smith will be held Saturday, Sept.27, in the Grace A.M.E.Zion Church, 1211 Vassar Ave.Visitation at 11 a.m.;funeral services at noon.Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery

Sources: Ancestry.com, Newspapers.com and FindAGrave.com

08/19/2024 EJS

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/30208147/helen_joyce_smith