Obituary of James Durrell Helms

Mr. James Durrell Helms, a resident of the Ewell Community of Ozark, passed away late Monday night, November 18, 2024, in Southeast Health Medical Center. He was 79 years old. Funeral services for Mr. Helms will be 11:00 A.M. Thursday, November 21, 2024, in the Chapel of Holman Funeral Home in Ozark with Reverend Al Loper and Reverend David King officiating. Interment will follow in Beulah Cemetery, located on Fort Novosel. Holman Funeral Home of Ozark directing. The family will receive friends at the funeral home in Ozark Thursday from 10:00 A.M. until service time. Mr. Helms was born October 23, 1945 in Dale County, Alabama to the late James Helms and Beatrice Anne Kemp Helms. Mr. Helms attended Carroll High School. After high school he worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant with Dale County Hospital and also worked at the Fan Drive In. Durrell was later employed at Fort Rucker as a Flight Coordinator where he retired after forty-seven years. He was a member of Harbor of Hope Church. Durrell loved to go fishing, watch old westerns, collect baseball cards and comic books, and during his teenage years loved to drag race. He was an avid Alabama fan. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Todd Helms and his brother, Ronald “Ronnie” Helms. Mr. Helms is survived by two daughters, Jamie Pylant (James) of Ozark and Tiffany Biard (Jeff) of Lebanon, Tennessee; one son, Ryan Durrell Helms of Ewell. Nine grandchildren, five great grandchildren, several nieces and nephews, and his girlfriend Peggy Martin of Panama City, Fl. Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made in his memory to the American Heart Association, P. O. Box 840692, Dallas, Texas 75284-0692; or to the American Liver Foundation, P. O. Box 299, West Orange, New Jersey 07052.