Life Reflections

" I will lift up mine eyes to the hills which cometh my help, my help cometh from the Lord which made the heaven and earth."                                    —Psalm 121:1-2

Helen Smith Johnson, was born on July 16, 1940 in Corpus Christi, Texas to Roy L. Smith and Elizabeth Kitchen Smith. The angels of God came to claim his own on April 25, 2021. Helen grew up in the Carver Community known now as the New Addition. She accepted Christ as her personal Savior and baptized at the age of thirteen at St. Matthew Baptist Church by Reverend C. H. Warren.

Helen attended public schools in Corpus Christi Independent School District and was a 1958 graduate of Solomon M. Coles High School where she played the clarinet in the school band. She received a scholarship to attend Del Mar College where she majored in Music. She also attended Corpus Christi State University and Los Angeles City College.

Helen began her employment at HEB where she worked as a bookkeeper and cashier. She was also employed by the West Oso Independent School District as an Assistant Music teacher. She worked at Los Encinos Elementary School and Foy H. Moody High School as a Paraprofessional  and retired in 1987 from the Corpus Christi Independent School District.

Helen always had a love for music. At the age of six, her grandmother inspired her to take piano lessons from Mrs. Martin and Mrs. M. C. Reed. The piano she learned on is now in the                              Littles-Martin House located in Heritage Park. She had one organ lesson with Rev. M. T. Burke, Sr. of Houston, Texas.  She loved all genres of music including gospel and classical music. Helen played for the Sunday School and Baptist Training Union and at the age of thirteen, Helen became a paid musician, playing for all the choirs. She retired in July 2010 as Director and Minister of Music from St. Matthew Missionary Baptist Church after fifty-seven years of faithful service. She later united with Bridge of Life Church under the leadership of Pastor James R. Miller.

Helen had a love for all hymns, but her favorite was "Give me a Clean Heart" and her favorite  scripture was Psalms 121:1-2. Her love and dedication to her family, friends, and church never         wavered. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend. Helen is predeceased by her parents; granddaughter, Kendra Matthews; grandson, Dominic Caballero, and sister, Geraldine Lewis.

Helen will always be loved and remembered by her husband, Lester Johnson; daughters, Karen Canada and Sherry Johnson;  grandson, Benjamin Matthews of Chandler, AZ; granddaughter, Leslie Beyer (Terry); great-granddaughter, Elizabeth Caballero; great-grandson, Kai Beyer; brother, Robert "Bobby" Smith (Cleo); sisters, Ellen Harper of Compton CA, and Othella Mumphord of Tampa, FL, and nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends whose lives she touched.