Mrs. Helen (Goodwin) Lassiter

Mrs. Helen Goodwin Lassiter was born on November 9, 1927, to the late Mack and Minnie Moxley Goodwin in Midville, Georgia. She was the youngest of nine children. Helen (or Sandy as she was called back then) attended primary school in Burke County, Georgia. She spoke fondly of her childhood, growing up in a community near family and friends. Her parents instilled a strong work ethic, which she exhibited throughout the rest of her life. She enjoyed telling stories about picking cotton and doing other chores before going to school. Often, while traveling with her family for visits back to Georgia, she would shake her head and comment that they would have never left that much cotton in the fields as those machines were leaving today. Raised in the South during the 1940’s she, like many others, migrated north. At 15, she moved to New York where some of her older sisters already lived. She worked various jobs to support herself, including working as a hatcheck girl at the famous Hotel Theresa in Harlem. One of her co-workers was a young future Congressman, Charlie Rangel. She also babysat future Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown whose father was the hotel manager. A friend in New York introduced her to one of his friends, Harold, and the two hit it off. On June 15, 1954, Helen married Harold Cleon Lassiter in Asheboro, NC. The couple then settled in Charlotte, NC. They had one daughter, Patrice Cleonette Lassiter. Encouraged by Harold, and upholding a promise to her mother to continue her education, Helen enrolled at Johnson C. Smith University soon after moving to Charlotte. She graduated in 1959 with a degree in Social Science. As a non-traditional student (a freshman in her late 20’s), she was not as deeply involved in campus life as her peers. She often told the funny story of how one of her friends talked her into going to a campus dance. A young man asked her to dance. She sweetly told him she was old enough to be his mother. He responded that he didn’t want to marry her, he just wanted to dance with her. As one can imagine, that was the last campus dance Helen attended. While at JCSU, Helen pledged Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. As an older student, it was sometimes a stretch for her to do the various antics the young ladies pledging had to do. At one point a “big sister” asked Helen to do something and she refused. Helen later recounted she was afraid the sorority would drop her from the line and the sorority was afraid she would quit. Fortunately for everyone, Helen made it through the pledging process. Helen taught in the Gaston County School System for 30 years at Reid High School, Hunter Huss High School and Mt. Holly Junior High. Helen enjoyed teaching. She often laughed as she shared stories of times she had with her students, especially on field trips. One of her favorites was when she took some Mount Holly students to visit a local business. It was warm inside the building, but Helen never removed her coat (she was always cold natured). She overheard some boys whispering that Mrs. Lassiter had to be hot with her coat on. In her quick-witted way, she told them she was from Africa and did not get hot. They looked at her strangely expecting someone from Africa to have a much darker complexion than she did. So, if you ever asked Helen if she was too warm, she would quickly remind you that she was from Africa. Helen committed her life to Christ at an early age and grew up in the Presbyterian Church. In Charlotte, she joined New Emmanuel Congregational United Church of Christ. Though she enjoyed Sunday services, she enjoyed Sunday School and Bible Study the most. She regularly invited friends who were not members at New Emmanuel to their Bible Studies. Helen liked being able to ask questions and discuss the Bible with others in a small group setting. She was very active in ministry at New Emmanuel and always willing to serve where needed. Helen was a wonderful addition to the Dalebrook neighborhood. If someone was ill or just needed a hand, she was there. Helen was the neighborhood mom who had a carload of kids headed to the Metrolina Fair or Carowinds. She was a faithful member of the neighborhood association and active in the community. Helen was involved in local politics and served several years as a precinct chair. She enjoyed gatherings and trips with the Senior Ministry at New Emmanuel and the Retiree’s Fellowship at Memorial Presbyterian Church. She also enjoyed being a member of the local chapter of Charms, nc. Surprisingly to many, Helen became an avid bowler. She participated in several bowling leagues and brought home many trophies. After Helen relocated to Greensboro in 2011, she attended Elim Christian Fellowship. She continued to grow in Christ through actively participating in small groups and the Women of Wisdom ministry. “Queen Mother” Helen enjoyed her Elim family, especially the other mothers. She loved their fellowship time and was always willing to bring her delicious sweet potato pie to their luncheons. Helen was preceded in death by her parents, eight siblings and husband, Harold C. Lassiter. Memories of her live on in her daughter, Patrice L. Bryant (Kelvin) of Greensboro, NC; three grandsons, SSgt William L. Bryant (US Air Force) of Altus, OK; Patrick S. Bryant of Greensboro, NC; and Stephen A. Bryant of Greensboro, NC.; one granddaughter, Helen Irene Bryant of Greensboro, NC; one sister-in-law, Dorothy M. Lassiter of Matthews, NC; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

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