Mrs. Helen Stevens Smith

Helen Barrett Smith Stevens, 87, died peacefully at her home in Alpharetta, GA on Saturday, November 17, 2018. Helen was born in 1931 in Hamlin, WV and was the daughter of the late Harry and Venice Barrett, who were killed in separate auto accidents when Helen was five and seven years of age. Her paternal grandparents, A. Bradley and Martha Barrett, raised Helen and her three siblings who preceded her in death -- Jim of Hamlin, WV, Lee (Bick) and Naomi Ruth (Shay) of Ashland, Kentucky. Helen had a wonderful childhood with many good memories growing up on her grandparent’s farm outside of Hamlin. When they became too old to care for her, she was taken in by friends’ families during her high school years at Hamlin High School where she was a cheerleader. Upon graduation, she enrolled in Marshall College in Business School to learn secretarial skills and shorthand where she met her future husband, Philip S. Smith of Huntington, WV, the son of Captain R.R. and Blanche Shepherd Smith. Philip and Helen had two sons together, Philip S. Smith, Jr. of Annapolis, MD, and Richard N. Smith of Canton, GA. Upon Philip Sr’s death in 1965 while living in Marietta, OH, Helen, at the age of 33, moved with her sons to Ashland, KY to be near Philip’s brother Paul L Smith. She returned to Marshall University to earn her B.A. degree while working full time as a secretary at Poage Elementary School. After graduation she earned her M.A. in Early Childhood Education and taught Kindergarten and First Grade for many years in Ashland area schools, and later in Lincoln Co., WV. She loved children with all her heart and had a passion to teach them to read. She often tutored her students outside of the classroom. Over the years, many of her students have reached out to her to share their fond memories of being in her classes. Helen had many friends in the Ashland area and in the towns of Huntington, WV, Maysville, KY and Marietta, OH where she and Philip lived while he was working with Ashland Oil. She loved people and cherished her many friends. After a long season of being widowed and raising her sons, she met and fell in love with Tom Stevens of Alum Creek, WV. She and Tom were married for almost 25 years and lived in Alum Creek near his family. She was blessed with a new family of girls, Linda, Beverly, Gail, Debbie, and Tom’s son, Tommy and all of their children, and enjoyed these years immensely. Tom passed away in 2012 and Helen moved to the Atlanta area to be near her son, Richard and his family. She loved the Lord and we take comfort that she is with Jesus now in Heaven. She is survived by her sons, Philip and Richard, their wives, Nancy and Kim, her three Granddaughters, Heather Smith Richardson of Atlanta, Haley Smith Mascaritolo of Canton, GA and Margaret Smith of Annapolis, MD. Great Grandchildren, Tucker Richardson, Harper Richardson, Carter Mascaritolo, and Hannah Grace Mascaritolo, all of the Atlanta area. Her family will miss her and yearn for the day when we will see her again. Until then, we will miss her smile, humor, being the boss, loving on the kids, her bright yellow sofa, and pound cake! Contributions in Helen’s memory may be made to Christ United Methodist Church in Ashland, KY. The family will host a brief graveside ceremony at Spring Hill Cemetery in Huntington, WV on Saturday, November 24th at 11:00 am.

Mrs. Helen Stevens Smith

November 9, 1931 - November 17, 2018