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Helen Farmer Popejoy

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Michigan State University University of Arizona

FUNERAL HOME

Snow's Memorial Chapel, Cherry St.

746 Cherry Street

Macon, Georgia

Helen Popejoy Obituary

Helen Farmer Popejoy -MACON - Helen Farmer Popejoy died Wednesday, February 07, 2007 in a local hospital. Funeral services will be held at 11A.M., Friday at Mulberry Street United Methodist Church with the Rev. Creede Hinshaw and Rev. Mitchell officiating. Burial will be private. -Mrs. Popejoy was born in Macon, GA the only child of Dr. Frampton Wyman Farmer and his wife, Helen Cater Farmer. She received her early education in Bibb County schools and graduated from Wesleyan College in 1944 with an A.B. Degree in Speech and from Wesleyan Conservatory in 1945 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree. Succeeding professional studies were taken at Michigan State University and the University of Arizona. The following years, from 1945 to 1953, were spent in radio at WMAZ, WBML in Macon and WRBL, Columbus, GA. In 1953, Mrs. Popejoy was a member of the team opening WMAZ-TV, Channel 13. There she co-hosted a show, "Hospitality Hour with Helen and Herb." Later she had her own talk show in the late Ô60's and early Ô70's, the "Helen Popejoy Show" for Channel 41. The remainder of Mrs. Popejoy's career was spent promoting shopping centers - Macon's WestGate Mall, Covington Meadows Shopping Center and Ingleside Village in Macon. She also taught Speech at Stratford Academy and Wesleyan College. Mrs. Popejoy was a charter member of the Middle Georgia Historical Society and the Town and Country Garden Club. She was a Life Member of the Federated Garden Club, Inc. and was a past president of Town and Country. Later she was president of the Middle Georgia Rose Society and was a former member of the Junior League of Macon. She was a member of Mulberry Street United Methodist Church where she served as a Sunday School Teacher and on the Administrative Board. She was a member of the JOY Class at Mulberry. Her participation in civic and charitable affairs was numerous. She served on several Boards, including U.C.P and the March of Dimes. In 1984 she was awarded the Bunny Chichester Award for the Most Outstanding Service to the Bibb Unit of the American Cancer Society where for many years she served on the Board. One of her favorite community activities was participating in the Macon Civic Club shows. -Mrs. Popejoy is survived by her daughter, Helen Parks Hall and her husband, Jack; her son, Samuel Waite Popejoy, III and his wife, Alisa; and three grandchildren, Samuel Albrittain Hall, Helen Rudyard Hall and Samuel Waite Popejoy, IV, all of Atlanta. She is predeceased by her parents, Dr. and Mrs. Farmer and her husband, Dr. Sam Popejoy, Jr. -The family may be contacted at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Cubbedge Snow, Jr., 4154 Canyon Road, Macon 31210 and will meet friends there from 3:00 until 7:00 P.M., Thursday and at 12:30 P.M. following the service on Friday. -They suggest that memorial contributions be made to Mulberry Street United Methodist Church, P. O. Box 149, Macon 31202 or to the American Cancer Society, 804 Cherry Street, Macon 31201 or to Wesleyan College, 4760 Forsyth Road, Macon 31210. -Visit www.mem.com to express tributes. -Snow's Memorial Chapel, Cherry Street has charge of arrangements. Helen Popejoy

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Published by The Telegraph on Feb. 8, 2007.

Memories and Condolences
for Helen Popejoy

16 Entries

Barbara Fields

February 12, 2007

I was so sorry to hear of your loss. The thoughts of many are with you at this time of sorrow.

Thomas Crow

February 11, 2007

You probably don't know me but I certainly remember Helen Popejoy in broadcasting. It's people like her that made me become interested in radio and TV. We shared a friend in Del Ward and Don King. I don't remember The WMAZ days but I do remember the Ch. 41 days with Don King. May God be with you all

Regina (Simmons) Watkins

February 10, 2007

My sympathy to family members Helen
and I were in the same class at
Miller HS in Macon(1940)However,we
were not extremely close we were
good friends.She was very good at what she did.May GOD bless you all!!

Pete Konenkamp

February 9, 2007

Parks and Waite:

I doubt you'll remember me. I used to visit at your home decades ago while I was still in elementary school. I remember how kind and gracious your mother was, treating her guests as though they were members of the family. Years later, when I worked at WBML, I would marvel at Helen's ability to ad lib those Bateman and Wade spots. Her beautiful voice would convince me that Bateman and Wade had to be not only "our favorite meat emporium," but also the finest grocery store in the world. I'm so glad to have had the privilege of knowing your mother.

Pete Konenkamp
Athens, Ga.

Jim Coleman

February 9, 2007

Dear Parks and Waite, I am so saddened by the loss of my friend, Helen. I had the opportunity and the pleasure to accompany Helen many times in her performances and I can truly say that "There is only one Helen". Her humor, her style and her genuine love for her friends will be greatly missed by all of us. Helen was a real Renaissance woman.

Victor Jones

February 8, 2007

Wait, Parks & Families,
Helen will be dearly missed. We kept ending up in the Dentist's office together, several times, over the last year. She still had that special gift to warm all that were blessed with her friendship.
Vic

Fran Sanford

February 8, 2007

Dear Parks and Waite,
I am so sorry to hear of your mother's death, Mother called me yesterday to tell me the sad news. I have so many wonderful memories of your family over the years, from trips to Satilla, where your Dad taught me how to drive in his then new Pontiac; to bus trips to football games when I got to tag along with the parents, and once got to sit with your Dad who had UGA club level tickets; to many fun visits with Helen while I was working on Ingleside Ave.; to our last quick visit several months ago, when Mom and I dropped in for a fast hello and howdy-do. Please know that I have you in my thoughts and prayers during this difficult passage. Helen was one in a million and I'm so fortunate to have known her.
Sincerely,
Fran Holliday Sanford

Charles (Pee Wee) Clark

February 8, 2007

I was truly saddened to read of the passing of my friend,Helen.I wish to extend my deepest sympathy to the Family, and to the many Friends she had. Many of you will not know me, as i have been in Australia for 38 yrs. I am "Pee Wee" Clark of the "Uncle Neds Hayloft Jamboree", WMAZ-TV 1953-1958. Helen and i were great friends and shared many happy moments at the "station". I did speak to her on the phone on one of my visits and we had a great time recalling "old times". In deep sympathy and respect i remain, Charles P, (Pee Wee) Clark.

MATTIE LEE MULLIS BAXLEY

February 8, 2007

THE FRIENDSHIPS OF THOSE WITH WHOM WE WERE FRIENDS IN YOUTH AND THOSE WHOM WE HAVE KNOWN FOR MANY YEARS MEAN SO MUCH AS THE YEARS GO BY. HELEN AND I WERE CLASSMATES AT WESLEYAN CONSERVATORY AND I ALWAYS REMEMBER HER AS FULL OF LIFE. SHE WILL BE SADLY MISSED BY ALL WHO KNEW HER. THANKS BE TO GOD FOR HER MEMORY. WESLEYAN '43

Barbara Suzanne Stephens

February 8, 2007

I only knew her from Mulberry but for a brief time back in the older days but I know she will be missed. She was a good lady and lived a good long life.
May God hold her family in the palm of his hand. Barbara Suzanne Stephens

Liz Fabian

February 8, 2007

I will certainly miss my chats with Helen in the grocery store. After recognizing me from my own work in television, she introduced herself to me years ago while she was having lunch in the outdoor cafe at Bert's. Ever since that day, we would run into each other from time to time. Although her pioneering career pre-dates my life here in Central Georgia, I quickly became a fan after learning more about her life and times in radio and television. At a time when women broadcasters were a rarity, she managed that delicate balance between raising a family and fostering a career. Through the archives at The Telegraph, I've learned how she donned a black leotard after her first child was born and shared her post-partum exercises with her viewers - long before fitness maven Jane Fonda started the aerobics video craze. Helen left her post at Channel 13 while her baby was still young, but returned to radio years later. During those years, she had two more children and had her mother fill in for her when Helen couldn't be on the air. Helen's enthusiasm for her community didn't end at the microphone. Oh, how I wished I could have seen her perform on stage for the Macon Civic Club. I can only imagine how she could belt out those torch songs. While speaking about her passing with Don King, the man also known as "Wild Bill Peacock" from his days on Channel 41, he told me how she would run into Bateman and Wade grocery, scribble a bunch of notes on paper and come back to the studio and ad lib her commercials for the whole week without missing a beat. That is the mark of a true professional. I am grateful for her hard work that helped pave the way for other women in the industry. Thank you Ben Sandifer for sharing your audio cilps of her. We have lost a great and gracious lady.

Laurie Murphy

February 8, 2007

Parks and Family,
I'm so sorry I will be unable to attend the service for your Mother.
Please know I am holding you and your family close to my heart during this difficult time. I know she will be deeply missed.
Love,
Laurie Murphy

Naomi Collins-Johnson

February 8, 2007

Waite & Family,
I will always fondly remember your mother. She made my tenure at Clisby an enjoyable one. I speak fondly of the chocolate that my seventh grader brought me from Switzerland.
Macon was blessed to have had the kind spirit pass through.
May all of you be blessed.
Much love,
Naomi Collins Johnson
Waite's Seventh Grade Teacher

Calder and Kathy Clay

February 8, 2007

I am so proud of the life long relationship we have had with the Popejoy family. Calder and Roberta will be so glad to see Helen. We are thinking about your family.

Ben Sandifer

February 8, 2007

We lost a true, professional broadcaster and a pioneer in our industry yesterday when Helen Popejoy passed away. I had the pleasure of interviewing Helen for WMAZ radio's 75th anniversary special several years ago. She was proud that she had the distinction of being Middle Georgia's first female radio newscaster in the early 50's. She told some great stories about interviewing the goat man during an early morning program, being on the air on VJ Day, and interviewing band leader Xavier Cugat while two chihuahuas peeked out of his pockets. My favorite personal memory was much later, probably sometime in the 1980's. She was the spokesperson for Bateman and Wade. Though her radio ommercials for them were pre-recorded they had a "live ad-lib feel" to them. It was lunchtime and I was probably headed to the nearest fast food restaurant. Helen's commercial came on my car radio, and she described B & W's homemade pimento cheese with such passion in her voice, that I turned my car around and headed for Ingleside. I bought a loaf of bread and a small container of pimento cheese and headed for a nearby park, where I found this delicacy to be just as good as Helen had described.
Helen will be missed.

Alan Daniel

February 8, 2007

To the Family. My prayers are with you all during this time of loss. Mrs Popejoy was a sweet lady which I remember as a child.

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