Helen M. Pickens

Helen M. Pickens

1924 – 2016

Helen M. Pickens passed from this life and into eternity with Jesus on Feb. 1, 2016. At the time of her passing, she was a resident of Amarillo, TX, but previously resided in Edmond, OK, Holly Lake, TX, Farmers Branch, TX and Norman, OK. It was in Norman that Helen and her husband, John P. Pickens, Sr. raised their two sons; John P. Pickens, Jr., now of Edmond, OK and Jeff S. Pickens, now of Amarillo, TX. Helen was born in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi on Sept. 27, 1924 to her parents, Clarence W. and Sallie (Taylor) McMinn. Living in rural Mississippi during the Great Depression was difficult, and the McMinn family overcame many hardships just to get by. Never did they have to worry about food, though, because they grew nearly everything they ate. It was the overcoming of those difficulties that provided Helen with the desire to excel in all earthly and heavenly virtues. In 1947, after earning her Registered Nursing degree at Birmingham Baptist School of Nursing, she married her true love, John Paul Pickens of Jonesboro, AR, and they set up housekeeping in Memphis, TN. Over their 63 years of marriage Helen and John were faithful servants, not only in their spiritual lives, but in their personal lives as well. Helen’s desire to help people was evidenced throughout her life, and she has a train of friends and family members who would testify to that. Helen was preceded in death by her parents, Clarence and Sallie (McMinn), and husband John (Pickens), also her brothers, Jim, Clyde, and Wayne McMinn; sister, Mosie (McMinn) Riley, and granddaughter, Montana Pickens. Survivors include a sister, Billie Thomas of Thompson, GA; son, John P. Pickens, Jr. (Lisa) of Edmond, OK; son, Jeff S. Pickens (Bonnie) of Amarillo, TX; granddaughters, Julie (Pickens) Hardaway (Doyne), Mindi (Pickens) Zukowski (Kevin) Sallie (Pickens) Miller (Eric), Rebekah (Pickens) Stueckle (Jonathon), Hayley Pickens, Anna Pickens, and grandson John P. Pickens, III (Marissa). Helen is also survived by 9 great-grandchildren; Laynie, Will, Zack, Luke, Eli, Sam, Jake, David and Ismael. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations in her name be sent to In Search of the Lord’s Way, program of Edmond Church of Christ, Edmond, OK. Funeral services will be Saturday Feb. 6, 2016 at 10:00 am at Edmond Church of Christ, Edmond, OK. Interment will follow at Arcadia IOOF, Arcadia, OK. Visitation will be held on Friday, Feb. 5, 2016 from 3-5 pm at Matthews Funeral Home, Edmond, OK.