Helen Boyd Valmus

"One of God's Most Beautiful Gifts"

Helen "Yai Yai" was born and raised in Osborn, Mississippi, a very small community full of tough, honest, hard working people. After graduating from Starkville High in 1958, she earned her Bachelor's Degree in Education from Mississippi State University. Helen then moved to Pensacola, Florida where she earned her Master's Degree from the University of West Florida and taught at Sherwood Elementary for 40 years.

Obviously, Helen loved children, and that love extended far beyond the school house walls. On any given day or night, you could find kids running through her house or playing in her yard. In fact, there were very few quiet days at the Valmus residence. Inside the house, there were forts to be built, matchbox cars to race, army men to battle, BB guns to be shot, cookies to bake, dolls to be dressed up, and cheers to be practiced. And even though Helen loved to garden and tend to her flowers and plants outside, she never complained about not having any grass – for there were always football games to be played.

Simply put, her love for others and their happiness far exceeded the beauty of a lush, green lawn or a pristine house. Of course, we still don't know how she planned for or afforded all the meals she prepared, but no matter how many cousins or neighborhood kids were at the house at any given time, they all got fed.

And those were school days. In the summer, Aunt Helen's house was the place to be for nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Those that visited her, left with memories that they will cherish forever. Aunt Helen's was a special place full of love, and she had a way of making those around her feel like they were the most important people in the whole world.

In addition to sharing precious time in the kitchen, at the beach, at one of a dozen parks, or picking blackberries along some backwoods country road with her family or friends, Helen also enjoyed reading books. We suspect that she collected cookbooks from just about every corner of the south, as well as countless Guidepost magazines.

Helen also loved animals. She would spend hours on her porch watching the birds and squirrels as they stopped by for a visit. She seemed to deeply appreciate all of nature, all of God's glorious creations from waterfalls and butterflies, to ocean waves and tiny streams, to forests of green and skies of blue, to summer nights and fireflies. And, more often than not, you could find a cat curled up next to her as she slept.

Helen's heart was kind, her smile was infectious, and her happiness came from living a life centered around pleasing God and trusting fully in His Word. She was a woman whose actions spoke much louder than her words (James 1:22; Matt. 7:24), and Helen's life was full of…

THANKSGIVING in all circumstances. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

PRAISING her Savior in all situations. Psalm 34:1

PEACE that surpasses all understanding. Phil. 4:7

And a sincere LOVE for others. John 13:34-35

Helen was a longtime member of Burgess Road Baptist Church where she enjoyed the hymns of worship and hearing the Word of God presented by Pastor Mark Cooley. She also enjoyed listening to the sermons of Billy Graham, Charles Stanley, and her nephew David Eldridge.

Helen was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas and Gladys Boyd; and her sisters Kathryn Shropshire and Elaine Parker Smith.

Her life will forever be cherished by her son Andy Valmus (Judy); her daughter, Jennifer Flowers (Lonnie); her brother, Tommy Boyd (Cathy); her stepson, David Valmus (Jennifer); and her grandchildren, Lance, Deomi, Nicholas, David Jr., and Lauren, and a host of nieces, nephews, friends and family.

Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, November 29, 2025, at Trahan Family Funeral Home, 60 Industrial Blvd. Pensacola, FL. at 11:00a.m. Visitation will begin at 10:00a.m. She will be interned to Bayview Memorial Park where she will be put to rest.