Helm, Roosevelt Delane

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amem_lake-pier.jpgA memorial service for Roosevelt Delane Helm, who passed away Wednesday, November 25, 2018, is scheduled Saturday, March 30, 2019, at 11 a.m. at Little River Missionary Baptist Church in Floyd, Va.

Roosevelt was born November 23, 1937 in Floyd, Va. to his parents Grady and Esbell Helm. Delane, as he was affectionally called by family, was the 4th born out of 6 to this union. Delane accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior at an early age and was baptized at the Little River Missionary Baptist Church. He attended the Harris Hart School in Christiansburg, Va. After school he worked with his father on the family farm picking vegetables and preparing them for the market.

Full of ambition he moved to Columbus, Ohio in 1956 at the age of 18. He began working construction jobs with his cousin, Alton Martin. He attended Love Zion Baptist Church in Columbus, Ohio, where he served on the usher board and sang in the choir. This is where he met Evalena, and they were married in November 1957 and had five children to this union. Roosevelt, Delane, De, or Rosie were some of the names he was lovingly regarded as throughout his life.

He began working for The Tuller Corporation in Columbus, Ohio in 1966. This is where he perfected his trade of Underground Tank and Hydraulic Lift Installation. He ventured out on his own in 1985 and began Helms Maintenance, Inc. He was able to turn this into a very successful business and acquired contracts with many top industries such as BP Gas Station, Shell, Swifty Gas Stations, Jegs, and COTA, just to name a few. He held licenses for Certified Underground Tank and Hydraulic Life Installation, maintained a CDL, and was a member of Laborer International Union of North America from 1966-1985. He retired in 1998 from the construction business.

Roosevelt was preceded in death by his father and mother, Grady and Esbell Helm; brothers and sisters-in-laws, Theodore Lawson and Hilda Helm, Lonnie and Clare Helm; and sister, Christine Helm. He leaves to cherish his memory his children, Timothy Helms, Elaine (Willie) Abrams, Christine Helms, Donna (Larry) Brown and Kim (Shawn) Skipper, all of Columbus, Ohio; his brother and sister-in-law, Grant and Elsie Helm, and brother, Elmer Helm, all of Floyd, Va.; the love of his life, Evalena Helm; grandchildren, TaJuan Helms, Asiah Ferguson, Kieara (Dominick) Akins, Simone Helms of Columbus, Ohio, Telon (Latika) Miller of Jacksonville, Fla., James Fergus of Columbus. Ohio, and Andreana Dowdy of Atlanta, Ga.; great-grandchildren, Nazier Smith, Aniyah Jackson, TaJuan Helms, Jayla Helms, Alanna Akins, and Nala Helms, all of Columbus, Ohio, Telon Jr. and Taylor Miller of Jacksonville, Fla., Lesly Lytle Helms and family; many nephews, nieces, cousins, extended family and close friends.