Helen Elizabeth Neely

Helen Elizabeth Phillips Neely, age 85, died peacefully on Sunday, April 10. She was surrounded by her adoring family and lifted by the love of all who ever knew her.

Helen was born on the first day of Spring, March 21, 1931, in the tiny town of Richton, Mississippi. Her proud and happy parents were Marguerite and Alton Knox Phillips. She was their first child, and the first grandchild of a large and doting Phillips family! She prayed for 10 years for siblings, and was finally blessed with a beautiful sister, Charlene, and a precious brother, Knox. It was her classic Southern upbringing that planted the seeds of that generous spirit of hospitality that blessed so many.

Helen's one true romantic love was Kenneth Irl Neely Sr., whom she met at the tender age of 12, and went on to marry exactly 65 years ago. With her beloved Kenneth came motherhood, which was her life's joy and her spiritual calling. She raised a family of 5 boisterous children while moving state to state, house to house, but always creating "home" along the way. She resided in Stone Mountain, Georgia for 35 years and spent her remaining years in Cumming, Georgia. Helen was the quintessential Mama - warm, sweet, soft, and welcoming. Food became the most famous expression of her unconditional love, and she fed many of us in her lifetime. Gathering around her table was holy.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth Irl, in 2003. Helen will be dearly missed by her surviving family members. Children are: Kenneth Irl Jr. (Deanna) Neely, Deborah Adair (Steve) Kirkpatrick, Sonja Elizabeth (Steve) Neely-Holt, Kimberly Ann Neely Rush, and Carolyn Michelle (Wade) Bowman. Grandchildren are Benjamin (Marion) Neely, Daniel (Jillian) Neely-Holt, Chelsea Neely-Holt, Elizabeth (Austin) Petree, Michael (Brittany) Kirkpatrick, James Kirkpatrick, Cathlene Kirkpatrick, Spencer Rush, Samuel Rush, Isabella Ravagni, and Rachel Bowman. Great grandchildren are Adam Neely, Greer Neely, Adair Petree, Gavin Petree, and her latest, whom she held just 2 weeks ago, Samuel Dean Kirkpatrick. Her sister is Charlene (Marshall) Ray of Mississippi. She leaves behind many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Helen loved nothing more than to rock a baby, and countless were held in her loving arms.

Helen weathered the storms of a life well lived by always focusing on what was good. She often quoted her favorite Bible verse, Romans 8:28. "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God and are called according to His purpose." May this be the legacy that we can all tap into when we forget what love is.

Services for Helen Neely will be held at McDonald & Son Funeral Home on Wednesday, April 13 at 1pm, followed by a graveside service at Decatur Cemetery at 3:30pm. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, April 12 from 7-9pm at McDonald and Son Funeral Home.