Ms. Brenda Joyce Helton

Brenda Joyce Smith-Helton was born to Johnnie C. Smith and Ossie Mae Tory-Smith in Madison, Georgia on September 12, 1951. The family relocated to Saginaw, Michigan in 1953. On Thursday, February 6, 2020 our loving and beautiful mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, niece, cousin and friend, surrounded by loved ones entered into eternal rest at the age of 68 years. Her love for the Lord, her relationship with her pastor, Willie Hill, Jr. and the Mt. Nebo Baptist Church family always gave her peace and comfort. God has always been her source of strength, and this is why she was able to plant the seeds of love, faith, forgiveness and friendship to her family. It was a blessing to have known her. Brenda’s passions were playing cards, going to the casino, going on trips, cooking and spending time with her grandchildren. She shared her love of cooking with all and she was best known for her famous dressing and her delicious dinners that so many enjoyed. Brenda cherished her children and grandchildren. She enjoyed preparing meals for them and especially took great joy in helping her grandson, Gary with preparing his dinners. They shared their vision of opening up a family restaurant. Her daily morning routine was calling her daughter, Chantel and son, Germaine just to check in, share love through conversation, and keeping up to date. All of these things and many more will be sorely missed by her family and friends. She leaves to cherish her memory one daughter, Chantel (Gary) Oliver; one son, Germaine Helton of Covington, GA; one bonus son, Paris Whitson, Stone Mountain, GA; grandson, Gary (Aurschanta) Oliver; granddaughters, Bre’Chan (Shateak) Oliver of Covington, GA and Antoinne Helton, Mesa, AZ; great-grandchildren, Ni’quel Smith, Urshel Oliver-Jiles, Garbrielle Oliver, Kenyen and Kyriee Carreker, Mesa, AZ, Jaiden Williams, Prince Black and King Oliver; sisters, Kathyrene (Homer) Mitchner, Vero Beach, FL; special cousin/sister, Angela Griffith, New Jersey, and J. Anitra Smith-Williams , Stockbridge, GA; brothers, Alton (Doretha) Smith, Lawrenceville, GA, Leon (Eula) Barnwell, Vero Beach, FL and Marlon (Yolanda) Smith, Decatur, GA; special cousin/brothers, Willie “Billy” (Linda) Thomas and Keith Griffith, New Jersey; aunt, Edna Williams, New Jersey; step-mother, Clara B. Smith, Stockbridge, GA and a host of other relatives. Brenda was always a blessing to others and one example of this was when she took on the responsibility of rearing and nurturing her great-nieces and nephews who she also leaves to cherish her memory, Akia, Miracle, Jaquan’tae Whitson, all of Saginaw, MI, Steve Whitson, Jr., Stone Mountain, GA, her extended family, the Harrisons’, Heltons’, Griffiths, Caseys’, Abbys’, Swifts’, Whitsons’, and Hardys’; god-daughter, Anita Arthur Chester, Decatur, GA and Ayanna Harrow. Ms. Brenda Helton was preceded in death by her son, Roosevelt “Antoine” Helton III; granddaughter, Antionesha Helton; father, Johnnie C. Smith; mother, Ossie Mae Tory-Smith; sisters, Yvonne Whitson and Gonza M. Adams; brothers, Bobby Smith and Willie Claude Smith and a niece, Jaqueline Whitson. Special thanks to her caretakers, Elaine Parham, Maddie Harrow and Willie “Billy” (Linda) Thomas, Covenant Cooper Health Care 4th floor, 4th floor ICU, Cooper 7th floor .Surgical ICU, 7th floor Covenant Harrison and Covenant Harrison 6th floor ICU and Samaritas Senior Living Rehabilitation. Celebration of Life service will take place at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, February 15, 2020 at Mt. Nebo Missionary Baptist Church, 1111 North 29th Street, Saginaw, Michigan 48601. Pastor Willie Hill, Jr. will officiate.

Ms. Brenda Joyce Helton

September 12, 1951 - February 6, 2020