Helen Carr

Helen Carr was born September 22, 1930 in Wilson, North Carolina to late Indiana Robinson and the late Jessie Bryant Reddick, known as ‘Joe Reddick’. Helen was the oldest of four daughters, Eunice, Debby, and JoAnn whom she loved dearly. JoAnn preceded her in death. At the age of two months Helen was taken to Rocky Point, North Carolina and raised by her grandparents, the late Roney and Charlie Robinson. She was taught at an incredibly young age to work, thus instilling in her good work habits. She became experienced farm worker and was educated in Pender County Training School of North Carolina and later in the Philadelphia Public School System. She was united in marriage to the late Earnest Carr in March of 1946. To this union one child, Felicia Nicole Carr. Helen joined the Mount Sion Holiness Church in 1948 under the leadership of the late Mother Lessie Taylor where she is under the expertise of Mother Taylor. Helen served in different capacities of the church such as Sunday School teacher, H.Y.P.U. President and teacher. She also assisted with the “seekers” was a member of the Prayer Warriors and worked in the financial department of the church. Her special treat to her Sunday School class each week would be a candy bar or ice cream. Helen’s duties also included working the Mt. Sion grocery store, doing hair, babysitting, dress making, doing laundry by hand, chauffeuring for those without vehicles, assisting in the kitchen, as well as serving the sick and the elderly. She could also be found running errands for the church such as food shopping and shopping for newborns. Helen touched many families with her generosity and love of giving, helping, and sharing. She worked side by side with late Bishop Jennie Parlin and sis. Emma Carr. She was especially fond of the late Solomon Parlin, his wife & sons. Helen began working for M&I, Newman Cap Markers in 1949 and for seven years gave all income to the church. She was an exceptionally good worker which afforded her the opportunity to train fellow co-workers, she was later blessed to become the sole owner of that company. Later she became employed by Grossman Cap Makers where she worked tirelessly until she retired in 1997. She had a special connection with young people, and this was evident as she shared her time and love with two incredibly special people, Joyce Burns-Frink and Alden Carr. For years, the little children of the twenty-one hundred block of Moore Street were always told to ring her doorbell when they got out of school on Halloween so they could receive a bag of fruit and goodies. Helen leaves to cherish her memory, her daughter Felicia “Nicky” Shepard, son-in-law Keith Shepard, grandson Demetrius “Demmy” Shepherd her sisters Debby Reddick-Fogler of New York, Eunice Reddick of New York, niece, nephews, relatives, and friends.