Obituary of Rita Jean Helms

Mrs. Rita Jean Tomlin Helms, a resident of Ozark, died Wednesday, August 26, 2020, at her home. She was 63 years old. Funeral services will be 11:00 A.M. Saturday, August 29, 2020, in the Chapel of Holman Funeral Home in Ozark with Reverend Teresa Hutto officiating. Interment will follow in Ewell Cemetery, Holman Funeral Home and Cremations of Ozark directing. The family will receive friends Saturday at the funeral home in Ozark from 10:00 A.M. until service time. Mrs. Helms was born February 27, 1957 in Ozark, Alabama to Lillie Jenene Caraway Tomlin and the late Grady Wilton “Bill” Tomlin. She graduated from Carroll High School in 1975 and worked with Super Foods in Ozark as head cashier for 18 years. She then worked as a daycare worker at Victory Tabernacle Worship Center in Ozark which inspired her to return to school to become a kindergarten teacher. She attended Enterprise State Community College and became ill during this time causing her continued disability. She was a member of Victory Tabernacle Worship Center and loved to sing spiritual songs. She was an avid book reader and loved arts and crafts. Survivors include one daughter, Jamie Nicole Pylant (James); one son, Ryan Durrell Helms; her mother, Lillie Jenene Caraway Tomlin; four grandchildren, Makayla Murphy, Autumn Murphy, Braelyn Pylant and Jaimelyn Pylant; one brother and sister-in-law, Wilton Keith and Alisa Tomlin; nieces, Whitney Adams and Candace Tomlin Terry; and the father of her children, James Durrell Helms all of Ozark; a very special friend and caregiver, Reverend Teresa Hutto. Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to the American Heart Association Memorials, 1449 Medical Park Drive, Birmingham, Alabama 35213; or to Crohn's and Colitis Foundation National Headquarters, ATTN: Financial Operations, 733 Third Avenue, Suite 510,New York, NY 10017