Helen Stavely

Helen Deloris Polan Stavely

Wrens, GA –               Helen Deloris Polan Stavely, 73, entered into her eternal rest Monday evening, October 26, 2020 at Doctors Hospital in Augusta. Funeral services to celebrate her life will be held at 2:00 P.M. Thursday afternoon, October 29, 2020 at Praising Him Ministries with the Reverends Richard Stavely Sr. and Charles Price officiating. Interment will follow in the Wadley City Cemetery.

Because of the family’s concern for public health and safety during this COVID-19 pandemic, the family requests that social distancing and other safety precautions be followed.  The wearing of face masks is strongly encouraged.

One of five born to the late Lois Ouida Hall Polan and the late Okie Lee Polan, Helen grew up in Wadley, graduating in 1965 from Wadley High School, where she was a member of Future Teachers Association (FTA), Future Homemakers Association (FHA), served as an officer her Senior year and was elected Most Funniest of her class  She then graduated from Bolen’s Business College before getting married. Helen’s first job was at Foster’s Construction in Wadley, after which she worked as the City Clerk for Wadley for 15+ years.  Helen moved to Greenwood SC, working at Parkseed from 1989 to 2001, returning to Louisville with her son to help raise her “special” grandson. After the loss of her brother-in-law in 2013, she and her sister moved in together, becoming even closer and supporting one another, both caring for their mother until her death in 2015.  Being a jokester, Helen loved to have fun. A quote from her found in her yearbook states “I, Helen Polan, leave my comical antics to anyone who thinks they are big enough to out-number them…. ‘Jumping Fire Hydrants’.” She kept her sense of humor through all of her health trials until the end, often joking and cutting up with the doctors and nurses. Her favorite pastimes were crocheting, arts and crafts and coloring adult art books. A voracious reader, Helen read the newspaper everyday—front to cover—and enjoyed Christian novels with Janet Oakes being one of her favorite authors. She loved her “fur babies”—Pebbles, Pepper and Precious. Her love for her family was unlimited and absolute, and was known for spoiling her grandkids. Above all else, Helen loved her Lord, Jesus Christ, serving Him at Praising Him Ministries. Her desire was for everyone to knowJesus and shared her testimony with all that would listen. Never complaining through her long hard-fought battle with multiple health issues, Helen has left this temporary home and is now basking in her forever home in Heaven, where she has a new, pain-free body and will be glorifying Jesus for eternity.

Helen was also preceded in death by her brothers, Ronnie Lee Polan and James Norman Polan; and brother-in-law, Alex G. Shumaker. Those left to cherish her memory include her son, John “Richard” Stavely Sr. (Leslie); three grandchildren, Tia Stavely, Richard Stavely Jr. and D.J. Zellner Jr. (Lanie); sister and best friend, Lois “Ann” Shumaker; brother, Johnny Lee Polan Sr.; sister-in-law, Iris Polan; nieces and nephews, church family and friends.

Pallbearers will be Freddy Jenkins, Jeff Lamb, Brandon Polan, Jimmy Polan, Johnny Polan Jr., Jordan Polan, Richard Stavely Jr. and D. J. Zellner Jr.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully request that memorial contributions be made to her church home—Praising Him Ministries, 1482 Hwy 88 W, Stapleton GA 30823.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 – 8:00 P.M. Wednesday evening, October 28, 2020 at Praising Him Ministries.