Helen Jacobs Stith

1933 - 2025

Helen Jacobs Stith
08/26/1933 - 11/07/2025
Helen Regina Jacobs Stith was born on August 26, 1933, in Portsmouth, Virginia's Historic Truxton District. She was the eldest of three daughters born to Albert Wesley "Bud" Jacobs and Elizabeth "Lizzie Beth" Northington Jacobs Harris. On Friday, November 7, 2025, Helen passed away at the age of 92.
Helen attended Portsmouth Public Schools, graduating from I.C. Norcom High School. In 1955, she received her B.S. in Music from Virginia State College in Petersburgh, Virginia. On June 22, 1957, Helen married Thomas Stith and together they raised three children, Bené Veronica, Karen Caroline, and Thomas II. Helen was an educator and choral director in Portsmouth and Norfolk public schools, and at Noble Street Baptist Church in Portsmouth where she also served as an organist. Later, Helen and Thomas relocated to Houston, Texas where she received her J.D. from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University.
Helen was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., the Links (Portsmouth Chapter), the Portsmouth Music Study Club, the Optimist Club of Portsmouth, and National Women of Achievement (Houston Chapter). Helen began her religious journey at Mt. Carmel Baptist Church, continuing at St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church, Noble Street Baptist Church and First Lutheran Church of Portsmouth. she later joined Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Houston.
Helen was preceded in death by her parents, stepfather Richard Ridely Harris, husband Thomas Stith, and sisters Eleanor Hortense Jacobs Jones and Soundrey Ann Guidry.
Helen is remembered by her children and their spouses: Bené Stith Thomas and her husband, Dwain A Thomas of Richmond, Texas, Karen Stith Weems and her husband, Orson Weems of Rogers, Arkansas, and her son Thomas Stith II and his wife Kimberly Gee Stith of Houston, Texas. She also leaves to mourn: two sisters-in-law Dollie Mae Stith Paul and Amelia Etheridge Stith; brother-in-law, Alfred O. Guidry and his wife Marnie Guidry; five grandchildren Tito Hunt, Brandon Thomas, Jordan Weems, Lauren Weems Farley, and Thomas Maxwell Stith III; great grandchildren Kamaya Hunt, Wynter Hunt and E.J. Farley, Jr.; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, at Houston National Cemetery Chapel.