Helen Holmes Neilson of Americus died Thursday, May 7, 2009, at Magnolia Manor Nursing Home in Americus. Graveside funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, May 11, 2009, in Oak Ridge Cemetery. Rev. Glenn Martin and Rev. Hale Bishop of Moultrie will officiate with burial to follow in Oak Ridge Cemetery. The family will receive friends at Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals on Monday, May 11, 2009, from 10:00 a.m. until the hour of the service.
Mrs. Neilson was born in Tifton and was the daughter of Charlton B. Holmes and Pearl Dickert Holmes, both deceased. She was also preceded in death by two brothers, Marion C. Holmes and Theron A. Holmes; and one sister, Roselyn H. Ziegler.
Mrs. Neilson grew up in Tifton, graduating from Tifton High School and on to graduating from Peabody College in Nashville, Tennessee, majoring in Physical Education. In her early years in Tifton, she taught swimming and was a certified lifeguard. For several years, Helen served as Physical Education Director of the YWCA in Miami, Florida. She was then promotoed to the position of Assistant Director of the YWCA in Houston, Texas, where she served as Administrator of all the YWCA units scattered over the county, organizing and directing activities for special occasions. She competed in the National Senior Olympics in 1995 in San Antonio, Texas, receiving a medal in swimming. Helen loved traveling extensively throughout the world. In 1974, she was appointed as one of twelve delegates from the United States to the YWCA World Conference in Melbourne, Australia.
Helen has been an active, lifetime member of the Methodist Church, serving as circle chairman, program planning, president of her Sunday School class and active volunteer in the shut-in program.
When moving to Moultrie, she also moved her church membership to Moultrie First United Methodist Church. Though now unable for active participation, her greatest pleasure was to be able to attend church, even in her wheelchair.
Survivors include one sister and brother-in-law, Harriet H. and Jake Herring of Tifton; one sister-in-law, Ruth Holmes of Macon; beloved nieces and nephews, Pearl Cox of Orange City, Iowa, Neal Herring of Gainesville, Florida, James Herring of Tifton, Nancy Nichols of New London, New Hampshire, Virginia Anne Holmes of Atlanta, Linda Smith of Milledgeville, Jane Dunn of Conyers, John Holmes of Macon, Fred Zeigler of Vidalia, and Sue Turner of Savannah; and beloved great nieces and nephews.