Lelia Helen Lunceford

Lelia Helen Lunceford, 90, passed away in her sleep Saturday evening, March 23rd, at 8:22 p.m. at Carriage House Manor, Sulphur Springs, Texas. Helen was born December 19th 1928 in Taylor, Arkansas the daughter of Joseph Wilson Horton and Cora Myrtle Webb Horton. Helen started singing in churches at the age of 4 and continued to sing throughout her life. She was a graduate of Campbell High School.

While attending a Stew honoring WWII returning servicemen at Emblem she met her soon to be husband, William Douglas Lunceford. They were married on July 30, 1948 in Hopkins County, Texas. Shortly thereafter, they moved to Dallas. To this union five children were born. Surviving children are two daughters; Shirley Patchen and husband, Tom, Kathy Byrd and husband, Steve; a son, Tony Lunceford and wife, Carla.

Helen, a loving wife and mother, served in the PTA, was a Y-Teen Leader, and a Sunday School teacher at Wheatland Methodist Church. After her husband retired in 1975, the family moved back to Hopkins County. She and Bill joined the Mt. Zion Church. Helen treasured her Mt. Zion Ladies Association and was recently honored at a breakfast by the ladies. She was a member of TOPS, Regal Foxie Fillies Red Hatters Club, and she was selected as Miss Congeniality of a past Ms. Senior Hopkins County Pageant. Helen worked many years at Sherwood Medical in Commerce. She loved her 6 grandchildren and her 8 great-grandchildren.

Services will be held Tuesday with visitation beginning at 1:30 p.m. at the Mt. Zion Church. The service will be begin at 2:00 p.m. with the Rev. Bob Woodworth and the Rev. Timothy Greenawalt conducting services. Burial will be in the Mt. Zion Cemetery.

Also surviving is Charles Flowers, a cousin who was raised as her brother. Preceding her in death were her parents; husband; two daughters; Linda and Glenda Lunceford; two brothers; Ernest Horton and Manuel Horton; a sister, Imonell Wisenbaker; and Royce Flowers, a cousin who was raised as her brother.

Pallbearers will be grandsons; Matt Byrd, Corrie Byrd, Jeremy Byrd, Aaron Lunceford, Jason LaRue and Brad Stuckey. Jones – Walker & Sons Funeral Home of Commerce is in charge of arrangements.