Helen Beatrice Levister Smith

In the late evening of August 28, 2022 at the age of 98, Helen Beatrice Levister Smith passed away. Helen was born in Franklin County, North Carolina on July 24,1924 to Joseph Edward Levister and Madeline Wilson Levister. She was the third girl in a family of nine that included six sisters and three brothers. Helen graduated from high school at 16 years old and entered Fayetteville State College near Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, North Carolina. During a dance at the college, Helen met Lloyd H. Smith, a sergeant in the Army at Fort Bragg. It was love at first sight. They enjoyed a 3-year courtship mostly through letters, as during that same time, Lloyd was deployed to New Guinea. Upon his return to the U.S., he sent for Helen and they were married in New Orleans on April 18, 1944. Helen was 19 years old. They had two daughters, Helen Juanita and Barbara Jean. On December 12, 1949, Helen was hired to be the secretary/bookkeeper for Hume Child Development Center. In 1971, she became assistant Director and in 1984 was appointed Director of the Center. For the next 11 ½ years until her retirement in 1996, Helen had a tremendous impact on the center. She developed and managed an operational budget to secure the financial stability of the center. She initiated many new and wonderful programs such as: Grandparents Day, The Educational Council meeting for parents, and Jazz, Sweets and Treats, the annual fund raiser for the Center, to name a few. In 1950, she joined Central Congregational Church, later Central United Church of Christ where she served as a deacon and was on the Women’s Fellowship committee. She continued to be an active member through Central’s merger with St. Matthew United Church of Christ following Hurricane Katrina; the union of these two churches was officially named “Central St. Matthew United Church of Christ”. Helen was an active and tireless member on the Council of United Way Agencies. She was a founding member of the Snacirema Club (Americans spelled backwards) composed of women who were not native New Orleanians. Her hobbies were reading, word games, cooking and sewing. She loved traveling and entertaining, Helen is predeceased by her husband of 49 years, Lloyd H. Smith. She is survived by her two daughters, Helen S. Green and Barbara S. Tasker, three granddaughters, Wendy Tasker Meilleur, Jennifer Denise Green, Stephanie Green Osborne, one son-in-law, Donald J. Tasker, one grandson-in-law, Terrance Osborne, five great grandchildren, two great, great grandchildren and a host of nephews, nieces and other relatives. Helen loved all people, and all people loved her. She was an elegant, warm, and gracious spirit. She was one of God’s angels. Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend a Funeral Service at Central St. Matthew United Church of Christ, 1333 S. Carrollton Avenue on Saturday, September 10, 2022 at 11:00 AM. Visitation will begin at 10:00 AM. Internment: Mt. Olivet Cemetery, 4000 Norman Mayor Avenue. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any donations be directed to the Noble Minds Institute for Whole Child Learning, 1333 S. Carrollton Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70118.