Helene’s Journey
…to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.
2Corinthians 5:8
Helene Anna Herbert Holt of Clements, Maryland entered this world on January 9, 1927. She was the third of ten children born to the late William Scanlon and Gertrude Herbert. Aunt Helen or Granny, as she was affectionately known by those who loved and knew her best, departed this life on June 7, 2024.
Helene attended St. Joseph Colored School on the top of Morganza Hill. That is probably where she and Kelley Holt started eyeing each other. At the tender age of 19, she and Kelley were married on September 28th, 1946. Kelley joined the Marines shortly after and together they traveled to places like Baltimore and Florida before returning to Clements to reside on the family property.
Being one of the first-born children in a large family meant that Helene had to pitch in around the house. Planting and tending gardens, cutting and hanging tobacco, and helping with the younger siblings were everyday occurrences. It also meant that the parents were stricter on the older ones. It’s no surprise then that Helene developed a heightened sense of responsibility and a strong work ethic. During her adult years, Helene had several domestic jobs. Just to name a few, she was employed by the Leonardtown Laundromat and performed day work. After her husband’s death in an unfortunate accident on the former Naval Ordinance Station in Indian Head, Maryland, Helene started working for her father driving one of his school buses. After a few years of driving for him, Helene decided to address her entrepreneurial spirit by purchasing a bus from him. She drove until her retirement in 1992.
All work and no play was not who Helene was. During her extensive lifespan, she was a member of the “Silver Crescent” and “Try Me” Social Clubs. The groups met at each other’s homes selling dinners, playing cards and gossiping. She enjoyed hanging out with her family, especially her sister Mary and her niece Lou (who was more like a sister to her). She also enjoyed Pokeno, gambling and playing bingo at varies places from Wayson Corner to St. Johns Church with Shiree Somerville as the chauffeur. Most of her Mondays were filled with visits with her sister, Barbara, and niece, Marie. EVERY Tuesday was reserved for Tyce and the “breakfast crew” at McDonald’s. Her home was an anchor and gathering place for the family. Holidays were epic filled with good food, joy, fun, laughter and family galore. Helen had an active life, but she still found the time to thank the Lord for the many blessings bestowed upon her and could often be seen and heard saying the rosary during her quiet times.
Left to cherish Helene’s memory are her sister, Margie Armstrong, sister-in-law, Delores Somerville, brother-in-law, Spencer Whalen, nephews and a niece (whom she treated as her own), Frankie Herbert (Crystal), Tyrome Medley, Junior Armstrong (Lee), and Charlene Medley, great nieces and nephews (who loved her like a grandmother,) Shawn Herbert, Alexis Herbert, Jamar Armstrong, Jasmine Armstrong, close friend, Agnes Baker and a host of nieces, nephew, cousins, and friends.
Preceding her in death in addition to her parents are her husband Kelley Holt, her sisters: Mary Armstrong (John), Theresa Parker (Sam), Betty Brady (Bob), Dorothy Bush (Dan), and Barbara Whalen; her brothers: Joe Charles Herbert, William Herbert Jr (Katie), and Joe Lee Somerville; in-laws, William and Louise Holt, Phillip and Theresa Holt, Paul and Helen Theresa Holt, and Martha Louise and Leroy Chase Sr., and her niece, Gertrude “Lou” Medley.
Family will receive friends for on Friday, June 21, 2024 from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. at Brinsfield Funeral Home, 22955 Hollywood Road, Leonardtown, MD 20650. A Mass of Christian Burial celebrated by Reverend Andrew Royals at 11:00 a.m., at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 29119 Point Lookout Road, Morganza, MD 20660. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.
Condolences may be made at www.brinsfieldfuneral.com.
Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A.
