Mrs. Lee White

July 10, 2011

West Point, Mississippi - Helen Lee White, 88, passed away, Sunday, July 10, 2011 at the Sanctuary Hospice House, in Tupelo. Helen Lee White was born February 26, 1923 in Pontotoc County Mississippi to the late Estelle Whitworth and George C. Lee, Sr. She was a member of First Baptist Church of West Point. Helen was one of eight children, one of which died in infancy. There were six girls and one boy, and the children were incredibly close their entire lives. They were each other's best friends. When the Lees got together, you knew that two things were definitely going to be included: food and fun; they couldn't have one without the other. We can't forget the laughter. Whenever the combined families would get together, the laughter would ring throughout wherever they were gathered. When Calvin White saw Helen for the first time with Nellie and J.D., Calvin said "I’m going to marry that girl." They quickly fell in love and married in 1941 when Helen was 18 years old. At Calvin’s death in 1999, they had been married 57 years. They had three children: Sandy, Sherry, and Mike. They sacrificed and worked hard to provide wonderful educations and a loving supporting home for their family. Friends and family often described Helen as one of the kindest, sweetest, and most gentle women they ever knew. She was known for her sweet demeanor, nonjudgmental and positive attitude, never having a negative word to say about anyone. She was the quiet one, the one who read all of the time. She was a very good student and was salutatorian of her 8th grade class. To celebrate, her parents gave her a ring of which she was very proud. She and her sisters were great singers, had a girls’ quartet, and sang at fiddlers contests, all day gospel singings, and church services. Her asthma prevented her from participating in sports that most of the other siblings enjoyed, so she would turn to her books. It made her a little more introverted than some of the others; she was somewhat shy, and preferred her family as the mainstay in her life. She always had time for any of them. Some of the highlights of Helen’s life were visiting Sherry in Germany, Mike in Jackson Hole, WY, Sandy in FL, and a cruise to Nova Scotia. Helen worked most of her adult life, eventually retiring from the United States Postal Service in 1987. Funeral services will be Saturday, July 16, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. from Calvert Funeral Home Chapel with Matthew Lee Patkus officiating. Burial will follow in Memorial Garden Cemetery West Point. Calvert Funeral Home of West Point is in charge of arrangements. Survivors include two daughters, Sandra Lee White Patkus (Lee) of Maitland, FL, Sherry Lynn White Jeffcoat of West Point; one son, Calvin Michael White of Jackson Hole, WY; four grandchildren; Tiffany Jeffcoat & Josh Jeffcoat, Huntsville, AL; Ginger Shackelford, Memphis, TN & Gene Bruton, Cummings, GA; four great grandchildren; Catie Shackelford, Carder Shackelford, Julia Bruton, & Jasmine Bruton; three sisters, Lora Holland of Macon, MS, Nellie Yelverton of Germantown, TN, Wanda Harrelson of Germantown, TN; one brother, George C. Lee, Jr. of Goldsboro, NC. Sisters, Marie Goforth and Lillian Thomas, preceded her in death Pallbearers will be Keith White, Tim Harrelson, H. O. Holland, Kenny Wayne Holland, Luke Lummus, Carder Shackelford, Gene Bruton, David Lee White, Byron Acker, Donald Acker and Josh Jeffcoat. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Mississippi Kidney Foundation, 3000 Old Canton Rd # 100, Jackson, MS 39216-4216 or to West Point/Clay County Animal Shelter, 1212 Old Tibbee Road, West Point, MS 39773. Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m.until service time at Calvert Funeral Home.