Helen Taylor Darrell

ROCKY MOUNT - Helen Rebecca Taylor Darrell, age 80, passed away peacefully, on Monday, September 26, 2016. Born in Brunswick County, VA on April 5, 1936, she was the daughter of the late Adolphus Taylor and Cora Powell Cheeks. She was the youngest of nine children. Helen graduated from Edward Wyatt High School in Emporia, Virginia in 1954 and spent a year studying at St. Pauls College in Lawrenceville, Virginia. Helen moved to Washington, D.C. after St. Pauls College where she was employed by Ted and Maru Brown. A natural caretaker, Helen worked for many years helping to raise the Brown children in Connecticut. After marrying Ellsworth Darrell, she worked for two companies as an administrative professional. Helen retired from the retail company Nine West after 17 years of employment. A woman of great faith, Helen was a longtime member of the First Presbyterian Church of New Canaan, Connecticut where she served as a Deacon. Helen spent over thirty years living in Stamford, Connecticut before retiring with her husband in 1998 to Rocky Mount, NC where they joined the Englewood Presbyterian Church. Helen is remembered for her contagious love of laughter and life. A social butterfly, Helen loved to entertain and hosted many memorable dinner parties with both friends and family. She also belonged to numerous clubs and organizations, including the YCMA where she loved to take aerobics. Always one to keep busy and express her creativity, Helen enjoyed several hobbies, most notably: gardening, arts, and crafts, decorating, cooking, and furniture restoration. Helen possessed a fabulous sense of style in both fashion and home decoration, something her nieces and great-nieces greatly admired. Helen leaves behind to cherish her memory her husband of 48 years, Ellsworth Darrell of Rocky Mount; her sisters, Ida B. Martin of Triangle, VA and Florence Irene Taylor Ridley (Edward) of Lanham, MD; and a host of nieces and nephews. A Celebration of Helens Life will be held on Saturday, October 22, 2016, at 11:00 AM at Englewood Presbyterian Church, 100 S Englewood Drive, Rocky Mount, NC 27804, with Pastor Rob Westlund officiating. Friends are welcome to visit with the family at the church, one hour before the service beginning at 10:00 AM on Saturday, October 22, 2016. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Englewood Presbyterian Church, 100 S Englewood Drive, Rocky Mount, NC 27804 or Hospice at 2460 Curtis Ellis Drive, Rocky Mount, North Carolina 27804. Arrangements entrusted to Wheeler and Woodlief Funeral Home Cremation Services, 1130 N. Winstead Avenue, Rocky Mount, NC 27804. You may share memories and condolences with the family by visiting www.wheelerwoodlief.com. Visitation Englewood Presbyterian Church 100 S. Englewood Drive Rocky Mount, NC 27804 ID ) ); ?>"> --> 252-443-3127 --> | Saturday 10/22, 10:00 am Service Englewood Presbyterian Church 100 S. Englewood Drive Rocky Mount, NC 27804 ID ) ); ?>"> --> 252-443-3127 --> | Saturday 10/22, 11:00 am