Helen M. Tyler Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Helen Marie (Shears) Tyler was born to the late Ruffin Shears, Sr., and Marjorie Ayers Shears on December 5, 1939, in Isle of Wright County, Virginia. Her early education was based in the Isle of Wright County and the Philadelphia, PA school systems. She began attending church at Sandy Mount Baptist Church in Smithfield, VA and was later baptized at Hill Street Baptist Church in Smithfield, VA. In 1955, after relocating to Norfolk, she joined Mt. Herman Baptist Church, in Norfolk, VA where she was instrumental in establishing a gospel choir. She later joined Ebenezer Baptist Church in Virginia Beach, VA where she was a faithful decorating committee member taking pride preparing special displays for church anniversaries, pastoral celebrations, and other events. She also shared her cooking talents in the church kitchen. Helen’s passion to help others was evident throughout her life. From the early age of thirteen, using her love for reading and math, she began assisting her father with his business. Helen continued her education, married, and began raising a family. This desire to help others continued as she entered her professional career and trained as a Nurse’s Aide for Norfolk Community Hospital. Now married and raising five children, Helen decided to put her unique math skills to work. After being employed by the Norfolk Naval Shipyard for a few years, she applied and was accepted into the Shipyard’s electrician apprenticeship program and retired after 30 years of service as the Electrical Planner in Shop 99. After retirement, “Taxes by Elliott,” a tax service business, was born out of an enterprising spirit and her passion to help others. Helen loved baking, yard sales, sewing, traveling, and was an avid bowler for many years. However, what Helen loved most were her children as evident in the fact that life does not always go as planned. Finding herself in a place of raising her children alone, Helen modeled determination and love as a single parent. Her sacrifices cannot be properly documented or captured in words. Her love for her children was expressed in her deeds. We, as a family, can find no better example of motherhood than the one God gave us in Helen. Helen understood that it is not what you leave to individuals that make them great, but what you leave in them! We thank and praise God, that on Saturday, February 12th, Helen Marie (Shears) Tyler was called from her labor to her reward after a lengthy battle with dementia. She took her flight peacefully and is now at rest in the presence of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Celebrating her life today is her husband, Fleetwood Tyler; her five children: Carlestra Holmes Grant of Greensboro, NC; Jacqueline Holmes Scott (John), of Norfolk, VA; Angela Holmes Holt (Mark) of Portsmouth, VA; Jerry Holmes (Julie) of Suffolk, VA; Alison Holmes Copeland (George) of Portsmouth, VA; her sister Brenda Kelly of Smithfield, VA; a brother Ruffin Shears, Jr. of San Bernadino, CA; 10 grandchildren (2 preceded her in death); 12 great grandchildren; 8 great-great grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephew, and friends. Helen was preceded in death by her father, her mother and two grandchildren: Calvin Holmes and Rhonda Hardy.

Helen M. Tyler

December 5, 1939 - February 12, 2022