Helen R. Terrell

Obituary For Helen R. Terrell

Mrs. Helen R. Terrell passed.

Celebration of Life for Mrs. Helen R. Terrell will be held Saturday, January 10, 2015 12 NOON at Grissom-Clark Eastlake Chapel. Interment, Lincoln Cemetery.

Viewing will be held Friday, January 9, 2015 at 12 Noon - 9:00 PM at Grissom-Clark Funeral Home, 227 East Lake Dr., SE, Atlanta, GA 30317, 404-373-3191. www.grissom-clarkfh.com

Helen Ruth Terrell, R.D., affectionately known as Wootie, was the youngest of four children. She was born on July 14, 1927, in Terrell, Texas to the late Samuel and Lillian Henderson. She graduated from Burnett High School and received her Bachelor of Science degree from Tuskegee University in Alabama, and completed her graduate work at North Texas State University. She was married to the late Jimmie J. Terrell, Jr., and to this union four children were born: Jimmie III, Helena, Fern and Stacy. She surrendered her life to Christ and became a faithful member of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Terrell, Texas, where she served as President of the Marechal Niel Social Club. She later joined and served faithfully at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia.

Mrs. Terrell obtained a broad level of expertise in the science of dietetics in the clinical, teaching and administrative areas in which she worked for over forty years. She was the administrative dietitian for Kansas City General Hospital, Kansas City, MO; worked at the Mercy Hospital School of Nursing, Springfield, MA; was a therapeutic and teaching dietitian at Saint Frances Hospital, Hartford, CT; dietitian at Alaska Native Hospital, Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Anchorage, AK. She was also a teacher and therapeutic dietitian at Saint Elizabeth Hospital, Belleview, IL; and therapeutic dietitian at the Jewish Hospital in Saint Louis, MO. Upon her return to Terrell, Texas, Mrs. Terrell, served as the Chief Registered Dietitian at Terrell State Hospital for twenty-two years. In her position as Chief Dietitian at Terrell State Hospital, Mrs. Terrell served as Regional Dietitian with the central office, providing service as a consultant to Denton State School, Mexia State School, Rusk State Hospital, Lufkin State School, Beaumont Center and Fort Worth State Schools. She was a key person in the implementation of meeting the standards of federal and state inspection agencies in the area of clinical nutrition for the state of Texas.

Upon the birth of her twin granddaughters, she moved to Atlanta, Georgia to be with her three daughters and grandchildren. She continued to enjoy her favorite activities such as traveling, tutoring children and volunteering in the community. She was also an active member of the Tuskegee Alumni Association.

Helen Ruth Terrell was preceded in death by her parents, husband, three sisters, Mrs. Ollie Velma Fuller, Mrs. Jimmie Mae Morrow, Mrs. Audrey McFarland; one granddaughter, Stacie Terrell and one niece, Ms. Lottie R. Morrow.

She leaves to cherish her precious memory: her devoted children: son, Jimmie J. Terrell, III; daughters: Helena Hall (Maurice), Fern Terrell-Scott (Hiram) and Stacy Dennis (Jeffery); three siblings: Mildred Smith, Walter Ruth Washington, and Lee Oliver Daniels (Tyrie); One sister-in-Law: Mrs. Doris Watkins; six grandchildren: Steven Terrell, Mackie Terrell, Georgia Lara (Wilmer), Lauren Scott, Erin Scott and Jovan Dennis; eleven great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.

Send flowers to the service of Helen R. Terrell