In Memory: Nancy Young Helms, Avid Traveler Found Joy In Simple Pleasures

Editor's note: the following obituary was submitted by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors and Crematory.

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Nancy Ann (Young) Helms of Milton, Georgia, passed away in her home on March 11, 2016.
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on August 16, 1957, Nancy was the daughter of the late Joseph Porter Young and Lorraine Wiley.

Despite losing both her birth parents before she was 18, living with type I diabetes, and rebuilding her life after a divorce, Nancy could always see the sunny side of life. Her smile could light up the darkest room, and her enthusiasm and positivity were contagious.

In school, Nancy was a self-proclaimed bookworm, and good grades came naturally to Nancy. However, she always cared more about people than personal accolades; from her first day freshman year at Hood College, she was the epicenter of her group of friends and the glue that held them all together.

After graduating from Hood College in 1980 with a B.A. in history, Nancy launched a promising career at Marriott. She excelled at work, but she never lost sight of her belief that family comes first. After 10 years with Marriott, Nancy dedicated herself full time to raising her beloved four-year-old son, Christopher, and taking care of her family.

Nancy courageously returned to corporate America when she joined Regus in 2005 and, during the next 10 years, she consistently delivered exceptional results and was appreciated by both clients and colleagues for her relentless work ethic, high attention to detail, friendly, can-do attitude, and her wonderful smile and bubbly personality. She loved helping others.

Outside of work, Nancy found joy in simple pleasures such as gardening, baking her legendary pumpkin muffins, and snuggling up with loved ones and pets to watch romantic movies and HGTV. Nancy had a love for words and language, and she demonstrated that by frequently reading the dictionary to a young Christopher!

Nancy was also an avid traveler and treasured her many adventures with family and friends, including trips to Hawaii, Alaska, Aruba, St. Lucia, California, Texas, and every state on the east coast. In 2015, she made her first and only trip to Europe, where she and Christopher explored Germany and visited a long-time friend in the Netherlands, making good on her promise to visit from more than 15 years earlier.

Nancy was a member of the First United Methodist Church and a devoted Christian. She believed love was the most powerful force in the universe and most important teaching of the Bible.

Nancy is survived by her son, Christopher Porter Helms of Dallas, TX; sister, Barbara Grundt of Loxahatchee, FL; sister, Susan Jentoft of Meridian, MS; brother, John Young of Hoover, AL; many nephews, nieces, and cousins; and her cat, Toby.

Her family received visitors at Northside Chapel Funeral Directors and Crematory in Roswell, Georgia, on Thursday, March 17, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

A memorial service was held at Alpharetta First United Methodist Church (AFUMC) on Friday, March 18 at 12:30 p.m. Lunch will be provided by AFUMC immediately following the service.

Nancy loved flowers, especially roses and tulips. However, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Camp Kudzu, which educates, empowers, and inspires children living with type I diabetes, or Alpharetta First United Methodist Church.

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