Helen Jean Pope, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend, left this world surrounded by a lifetime of love, laughter, stories, and memories. Those who knew her will carry that love with them for generations to come.

Helen was the devoted wife of August “Pete” Pope and the proud mother of three daughters, Sheila, Sandra, and the late Heather. She was a grandmother to nine grandchildren and a great-grandmother to 15 great-grandchildren. Her family was her greatest joy, and there was never a doubt about how deeply she loved them.

For so many, the house on Wood Street was more than just a house. It was home.

It was a place where the door always seemed to be open, where there was always room for one more, and where you could walk through the door carrying whatever the day had brought and somehow feel a little lighter when you left. It was a home you missed when you were away and were always a little sad to leave. Helen created that feeling—not with grand gestures, but with the quiet, gentle love she gave so naturally. The warmth of that home was simply a reflection of the woman who made it one.

Helen knew how to enjoy the little things in life. She loved to bowl, play cards, and find a great bargain. She loved Elvis, Coca-Cola memorabilia, scary movies, and soap operas. She could stay up late talking with the people she loved, sharing stories and laughter, somehow making midnight arrive far too soon.

Helen was an incredible cook, the kind who rarely needed a recipe. She cooked by instinct, knowing just what to add to make it right. Somehow, she always did. Her kitchen was more than a place where food was prepared. It was where people gathered, conversations happened, laughter was shared, and memories were made.

And if there was a cat nearby, Helen was likely to make room for it, too. She had a special love for cats, and they seemed to know they had found a soft place to land whenever Helen was around.

Helen is survived by her daughters, Sheila, and Sandra; her nine grandchildren; and her 15 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, August “Pete” Pope, and her daughter, Heather.

Though Heather is no longer here to share in the stories and memories, she remains forever woven into the family Helen loved so deeply.

Helen’s life was not defined by grand things. It was defined by the everyday things that, in the end, become the most important: a door that was always open, a meal made without a recipe, a late-night conversation, a game of cards, a bargain found at just the right price, a cat welcomed into her home, and the comfort of simply being together.

She gave her family something that cannot be replaced—the feeling of home and long after the house on Wood Street is quiet, her family will carry that feeling with them. They will hear her in the stories they tell, see her in the traditions they continue, taste her recipes in the meals they make, and feel her love in the family she brought together.

Helen will be deeply missed, forever loved, and always remembered and for all who were lucky enough to know her, a little piece of home will always be wherever Helen’s memory lives.

Visitation will be held on Saturday October 3, 2026 from 1:00 – 2:00 pm at Blaylock Funeral Home, a funeral service to follow at 2:00 pm. Interment will be private. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Blaylock Funeral Home.