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"To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, A time to die, A time to plant, and A time to pluck up that which is planted."Ecclesiastes 3:1-2A celebration of life service for Ms. Helen Louise Smith Johnson will be held on Saturday April 4, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Grace Mary Missionary Baptist Church, 3901 N. 37th Street, Tampa, Florida with Pastor James R. Reed, Jr. Officiating. Interment will follow in Rest Haven Memorial Park Cemetery, 4615 E. Hanna Avenue, Tampa, Florida. There will be a viewing on Friday April 3, 2026, from 3:00 - 8:00 p.m. at Wilson Funeral Home, 3000 N. 29th Street, Tampa, Florida.Helen Louise Smith Johnson was born March 18, 1941, in Tampa, Florida. Helen was a product of Robles Park and College Hill Public Housing areas. She was the 2nd of 13 children born to the union of the late Eddie James Smith, Sr. and Bernida Verdell Smith. Helen was educated in the Hillsborough County Public School System and graduated from Middleton Senior High School where she was a member of the Middleton Tiger's Drill Team until she graduated in June 1959. Helen gave her life to Christ at a young age when she became a member of Allen Temple A.M.E. Church where she sang in the choir. Helen's other church affiliations throughout her life were The Historic Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 2nd Baptist Church of Richmond Heights and a faithful member of the First Baptist Church of College Hill until she was unable to continue due to her health.Helen moved to Miami, Florida to attend Northwestern Adult Business School and continued her education at Miami Dade College where she studied business and court reporting. She was employed as the 2nd female driving instructor for O'Berry's Driving School during the 1960s. She later worked at Miami Dade College as a computer operator for 29 years before retiring in 2007.Helen met and married military serviceman Thomas Pierson Johnson Jr. and spent time living in Augusta, GA and several years in Ulm, Stuttgart and Frankfurt, Germany. From this union, 2 children were born, Sonya Antoinette and Anthony Keith. After leaving Germany, their travels took them back to Miami, Florida where Helen spent several years serving as Vice President of the Southridge Parent's Association and Team Mom for South Dade Optimist football program due to her children's cheerleading, football and basketball activities. As for her own involvement, she bowled on the South Dade County bowling league for a number of years and regularly loved skating on Saturday mornings. She was a known sports enthusiast and remained involved in some capacity as much as possible. Helen moved back to Tampa and began a daily YMCA regimen to stay fit while making new friends whom she called "Snowbirds" because they traded the cold northern climate for the sunshine in Florida. She enjoyed those connections as well as her continued contact with former co-workers and re-connections with her high school classmates. Those relationships remained dear to her. She most enjoyed spending time with her family as she reveled in the singing and dancing that were always a part of the fun.Mrs. Johnson was preceded in death by her sisters, Rubie Mae and Bernida Verdell, II; four brothers, David Randolph, Eddie James, Jr, Randolph (Pete), Samuel Ronald and granddaughter, Darynn Antoinette. God called our loved one home to a peaceful rest on March 15, 2026, just 3 days shy of her 85th birthday. She leaves to cherish many memories of her with one daughter, Sonya Antoinette and one son, Anthony Keith (Eureka); one granddaughter, Brianna Simone; eight siblings - brothers and sisters, Herbert Bernard (Jeris), Ave Maria, FL, Albert Eugene (Debra), Homosassa Springs, FL, Sally Holt, Valrico, FL, Aaron Robert, Tampa, FL, Valerie Renee (James) Atlanta, GA, Stanley Jerome (Doris) Houston, TX, Rhonda Denise, Laurel, MD and Klisa Renina, Tampa, FL; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends who will miss her dearly."A Wilson Service"

Ms. Helen Louise Smith Johnson

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