Helen Weatherford Givens, faithful servant of God and her Lord Jesus Christ. Helen, my wife, exhibited in her life the virtues of the excellent wife and mother described in Proverbs 31: 10-30. Her ever present identity was an enduring smile and sparkling eyes which was but an outward expression an adorning of the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. 1 Peter3:4. Helen was diagnosed with early Alzheimer’s Disease in late 2002 and in the late stages of the disease, her ability to show her smile and sparkling eyes began to fade and when it was outwardly gone her Lord Jesus called her home on December 3, 2016. Helen was at home surrounded by family, myself most of our children and grandchildren when her Lord called her to her eternal heavenly home. Our hearts are heavy and we will miss your earthly presence, beautiful smile and sparkling eyes. We will mourn but not as those who have no hope. Farewell for now and in our Lord’s time you and I will be eternally united. You have been the love of my earthly life for over sixty years and blessed my life beyond description; that love will never end. Now abides Faith, Hope, and Love, these three; but the greatest of these is Love. Love never ends. Your loving husband now and eternally, Wendell.
Helen was born June 30, 1936 in Rockwall County. She was preceded in death by her parents, Lloyd and Leta Weatherford and sister, Virginia Weatherford Tyler. She is survived by her husband, Wyatt Wendell Givens, her children David, Laurie Givens Carroll, and Bryan Givens; she is also survived by son-in-law, Bill Carroll, daughter-in-law, Limei Lin Givens, her six grand-children, Erin, Claire, Megan, and Laura Givens, and James and Jenna Carroll, cousins and many other relatives.
Helen was a scholar; she earned her BA in home economics from North Texas State College in 1956. Helen met her future husband Wendell a physics and mathematics major at NTSC and they were married June 29, 1957. Helen was known for her love of teaching especially young children. She taught Sunday morning Bible classes for 3-5 years olds for over 40 years. During this time she recruited, trained, and mentored another generation of teachers. Her love of teaching was matched with her love of learning. She continued her education while raising her children by earning a MA and a Ph.D. in Early Childhood Development from Texas Women’s University.
There will be visitation Wednesday evening, 6-8 pm at the Turrentine Jackson Morrow Funeral Home, 300 Pecan Street, Gunter, Texas. A graveside service will be held at the Royse City Cemetery Thursday, December 8th at 11:00 am. A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, December 10th at the Western Heights Church of Christ, 800 Baker Park Drive in Sherman, Texas at 2 pm.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the BrightFocus Foundation for Alzheimer's at www.brightfocus.org/alzheimers.