Helen Marie Helderman Garrison, 80, of Durham, a loving daughter, sister, sorority sister, wife of 52 years, mother, Granny, and widow, died peacefully on Wednesday, April 1st, 2020.
A native of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, she studied English at the University of Oklahoma, joining the Alpha Chi Omega sorority. While attending a summer leadership program in New York City for the Campfire Girls, she met her future husband, David Garrison. She finished her degree at Oklahoma City University to graduate early and marry David, whom she accompanied to Union Theological Seminary in New York City. Over the course of his ministerial career, she accompanied David to 6 Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) congregations in North Carolina.
After struggling to conceive for nearly a decade, Helen and David adopted their son, Chuck, and with pressure removed, their daughter Jennifer followed a year later. When David was at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Wendell, NC, Helen studied graduate English at North Carolina State University, where she was an enthusiast of Chaucer and Shakespeare and became literate in Middle English. Her childrens’ early memories include sitting cross-legged in the car due to the mountain of Hemingway books taking up the floorboards.
She later worked as a social research assistant and conference planner for the UNC-CH Medical School TEACCH program, where she supported families and educators of children with autism around the world. She also served as Chapter Advisor to the UNC branch of Alpha Chi Omega, forming many lifelong relationships.
When David retired from ministry, they settled in Durham, NC, where she joined First Presbyterian Church, reuniting with a beloved choir director, and focusing on spending time with a growing family. Both her son and daughter welcomed grandchildren (the first of which were both born in years where UNC won the NCAA men’s basketball championship.) She skillfully used frequent flyer miles to visit her family at military postings in Italy, Guam, and Hawaii, particularly enjoying the flagship Salvatore Ferragamo store in Florence.
She was predeceased by her beloved husband David, who passed away in 2014 after 52 years of marriage. She is survived by her son, Chuck Garrison of Chapel Hill, her daughter, Jennifer Eberlein of Honolulu, Hawaii, their spouses and four grandsons - William, Christopher, Stough and Callum.
We are comforted that Helen and David are once again reunited.
In lieu of flowers, Helen’s family requests donations to both the Fisher’s Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation and TEACCH Autism Program.
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