Helen Meeks Stephenson

Helen Meeks Stephenson, passed away at the age of 92 on March 25, 2024 in Princeton, TX. She was born November 18, 1931 in Wentworth Township in Rockingham County, NC.

 After graduating high school in 1949, Helen fibbed about her age and began her first job as a switchboard operator for Heins Telephone Company. As a young woman living on her own in the “big city” of Sanford, NC, she found lodging in a women-only boarding house in what is now known as Mrs. Lacey’s Magnolia House restaurant. She loved having the front bedroom looking out onto Carthage Street. Helen also worked for many years as a bookkeeper in her brother-in-law’s company, N&S Vending, in Pittsboro, and in Human Resources at Central Carolina Community College in Sanford, NC. An avid and talented seamstress, Helen began making her own clothes while in high school. Nothing made her happier than to be dressed neatly, and she never went out of the house without her lipstick and makeup in place. Later in life, she enjoyed taking classes in painting, ceramics, and basket weaving at the local community college alongside her sister, Catherine. In retirement, she was thrilled to be able to travel out west along Route 66, and internationally to Argentina, Uruguay, Zimbabwe, eSwatini, South Africa, and Botswana. She was a devoted and proud mother and grandmother.

 Helen is predeceased by her parents, David and Lucy Meeks, two sisters, Catherine Meeks Stanley and Mary Meeks Dickerson, her son, Mark Cotten, and husbands, Otis Cotten (father of Sharon and Mark), John Wallace High (father of Angie), and James “Steve” Stephenson. She is survived by her two daughters, Sharon Cotten Moffett (Dave Moffett) of McKinney, TX, and Angie High Cloud (Craig Cloud) of Bald Head Island, NC. She was a much-loved Grandma Oogie and GiGi to her four grandchildren, Christopher Moffett (Erin) of Heath, TX, Eric Moffett (Julia) of Suffolk, VA, Wallace Anne Cloud of Washington, DC, and John Beck Cloud of Washington DC. She had two great-grandchildren, Evan Moffett and Audrey Moffett. Helen also leaves behind her dear friend of 72 years, Vivian Cummings Simpson of Sanford, NC.  Her daughters wish to thank the devoted staff and residents of Princeton Medical Lodge in Princeton, TX, who took such wonderful care of Helen for the last two years.

A celebration of Helen’s life will be held at a later date in Sanford, NC. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in honor of Helen Stephenson to the Dementia Society of America by mail to PO Box 600, Doylestown, PA 18901, or online at www.DementiaSociety.org/donate.