Jeanne Moore Helton, born Nov. 1, 1945 in Spartanburg, S.C., a resident of Orange Beach, died Monday, July 12, 2010 after an almost two-year battle with cancer.
She grew up in the small town of Duncan, S.C. She had a childhood filled with wonderful friends and family. She spent most of her summers at Pawley’s Island, S.C., where she developed a passionate connection to the low country and all of its glory. She loved the ocean, the smell of the marsh, Carolina beach music, shagging on the Pavilion, and the magical history that fills the air in that part of the world.
Her high school years were filled with accomplishments. She was a majorette at Byrnes High School and entertained half times crowds at football games by twirling fire lit batons. She was loved and adored by all of her classmates and crowned their Homecoming Queen in 1962 and honored as Miss Souvenir in 1963.
She attended Newberry College on a full majorette scholarship. She was an accomplished dancer and studied ballet, tap, and jazz in New York City. She taught dancing for twenty years starting her career in South Carolina and ending in Fairhope. All of her students loved her dearly.
On Dec. 19, 1970, she married the love of her life, J. Philip Helton of Florence. He fondly recalls their first date as “love at first sight.” The two were married in Duncan, S.C., and started their life together in Montgomery. She was very active in the Junior League of Montgomery, taught Manners and Etiquette, and was crowned Queen of Les Dames.
For the last 16 years they resided on the Alabama Gulf Coast. Her main role was a devoted mother, wife, and grandmother. In her free time she was an incredible freelance decorator. She had impeccable taste and could transform any place into something magnificent…whether it was a friend’s wedding reception or their home.
In the last five years, she became ‘Gigi’ and was the most incredible grandmother any child could ever ask for. She played for hours with her grandchildren. She was so patient and so much fun. She would sing songs with them, read books with them, take them to the zoo and to get ice cream, and made them feel like the most special little person on earth.
She made lasting impressions on everyone she met. Southern charm, dignity, class, humor, and kindness radiated from within her soul. Everyone always commented that they felt as if they had known her their entire life from the moment they had the pleasure of meeting her.
She was proceeded in death by her mother, Betty Moore; father, Marshall Moore; and sister, Marsha Moore.
Survivors include her loving husband, J. Philip Helton; son, J. Philip “Bubba” (Margaret) Helton Jr. and their two children, Jackson Boardman and Hampton Gray; daughter, Elizabeth Helton (Murray) Moss and their two children, Blair Elizabeth and Jeanne Monroe.
Visitation begins at 4 p.m. with a memorial service at 5 p.m. Wednesday, July 14 at St Andrews by the Sea in Gulf Shores.
The family requests memorial donations be made to St Andrews by the Sea or visit pmpcure.org to donate and help in the research for her extremely rare cancer that is so often misdiagnosed as was initially in her case.
