Hazel Tucker Whitley Helms
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Hazel Tucker Whitley Helms, age 90, passed away on January 28, 2021. She was born in Stanly County to Millard Thomas Tucker and Minnie Burris Tucker, the sixth of eight children. She married her childhood sweetheart, Marvin E. Whitley, who passed away in 1984 and in 2002 she married Johnny Helms, who passed away in 2006.
Hazel was a faithful Christian and enjoyed many churches over the years as well as Christian ministries on TV after she gave up driving in her 80s. She loved the gospel hymns sung by groups such as the Gaithers. She encouraged herself and others daily with these old-time gospel songs and hymns. Plant and flower therapy was a huge part of her heartbeat all her life. Eventually life took its toll on her body and flexibility, but her love of plants and flowers never left her. She was known for growing edible pineapples from the top of another pineapple, growing Meyer lemons on her lemon tree as well as growing plants and flowers from cuttings. She always longed to "play in the dirt."
She was loved by all...her children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and many, many friends. Her last few years were lived at Morrow Chase in Albemarle where she added many new friends. She will be greatly missed on this earth but we know she is at home with her Heavenly Father.
Hazel is survived by her three children; Brenda Biggers of Raleigh, NC: Clay Whitley of Charlotte, NC and Terri Whitley of Charlotte, NC; grandchildren, Bridget Anderson (Stephen) of Raleigh, NC; Barbara Heyel (Brian) of Raleigh, NC; Jason Whitley (Sara) of Gastonia, NC; Caryn Whitley of Charlotte, NC; Ashley Boyden (Cory) of Charlotte, NC; and 12 great-grandchildren; brother, Tommy Tucker (Penny) of Big Lick, and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and six sisters.
A celebration of life may be held later in the spring. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Bethel Baptist Church of Locust, the church in which she grew up, or First Assembly of Albemarle.