Unaka
The epitome of volunteerism would describe local resident Nancy Helms. Born in 1941, she grew up in northern Cherokee County and was one of seven children born to hard-working parents.
Helms recalled her family always being involved in church and other community activities helping others.
“We went to everything the church had,” she said. “Just growing up in a very involved family was a big inspiration for me.”
Helms graduated from Murphy High School, then went to Western Carolina University, where she earned a bachelor of science degree in elementary education. She eventually earned a master’s degree in library information science at the University of South Carolina, as well as a masters-plus 30 hours through the Citadel and College of Charleston, S.C., in reading and language arts.
Helms is a cheerful lady, who appears to enjoy life, as indicated by her frequent chuckling and lighthearted spirit throughout the conversation. She always makes time to stop, chat and help others.
Helms taught in Cherokee County Schools as a library and reading supervisor before moving to Charleston. She was the media specialist at Ronald McNair Elementary School, where she remained for 29 years before retiring in 2003.
Anyone who knows Helms knows her to be an avid volunteer, which recently earned her the prestigious title of Volunteer of the Year during an appreciation dinner celebration at The Ballroom in Murphy. Mayor Tim Radford presented the award to Helms, which was a total surprise to her.
Helms has earned numerous awards in her lifetime. In 1964, she was presented with the 4-H Leader of the Year award, and in 2016 she earned the Liston B. Ramsey Award for Democrat of the Year for her performance in Cherokee County. Other awards would follow.
Her volunteer work encompasses many tasks, including writing grants, raising money, putting like-minded people together to accomplish tasks and helping others in any way she can. Helms is involved in the community as well as with Ogreeta Baptist Church.
When asked what her greatest achievements were, Helms had two.
- Her son was recently named Employee of the Month for the western hemisphere of Elektra, a medical imaging company.
- Arranging for professor Lester Laminack, a children’s literacy specialist and inspirational speaker for language arts, to come to Tri-County Early College High School to speak. His fee at the time was $2,500, which Helms helped raise to bring the professor to the school.
“Everyone – including janitors, teachers and cooks – came to see him speak,” she said. “It was one of the neatest things.”
One of the other great joys in Helms’ life is traveling, particularly to Europe and Germany. She often housed German intern students from 1992 to 2002, and when she visits Germany she’s often surrounded by those same students, as they gather to meet her wherever she’s at.
Today, she is working with others to get umbrellas put above the recently dedicated alleyway in downtown Murphy and picnic tables with umbrellas set up at the L&N Depot. She’s also working on ideas to benefit local youth.
When asked how she does it all, Helms said with enthusiasm, “I can do nothing if it weren’t for the people I work with.”
When asked the question, “Where do you see yourself in 10 years?” Helms said with a laugh, “I hope if I’m still alive in 10 years, I’m at least contributing to making something better.”
Helms’ hobbies include reading and traveling.
Helms is a happily busy lady who was planning to run out and pick up 3 pounds of cole slaw for an upcoming event as well as other community-minded errands at the time of this interview. When asked what she would say to folks in these ever-changing times, she simply said, “Be kind. That’s what our nation needs right now. Just be kind.”