Helen Ellington Cheely

Helen Rose Ellington Cheely, 92, of Winston Salem, North Carolina, passed away on Friday, February 22, 2013 at Forsyth Medical Center, after a short illness. Born in Petersburg, Virginia, she was the daughter of the late Edward and Grace Ellington. She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard Wilson Cheely, brother, Charles Edward Ellington, II, mother, Grace May Branch Ellington, and father, Edward Branch Ellington, all from Petersburg, VA.
Helen loved music; especially singing, as well as gardening, animals, playing bridge, and bingo with other seniors, along with her husband of 68 years in North Carolina. She was a member of the Petersburg Federated Women's Club, Memorial United Methodist Church, Washington Street United Methodist Church, and other social clubs related to gardening and sewing. Her other passions in life were knitting, needlepoint, crewel embroidery, crochet, reading, and keeping up with politics.
Helen was employed for over 25 years with the Virginia Department of Highways & Transportation in both Richmond and Colonial Heights, Virginia, as an engineer's stenographer, and loved her many friends she worked with. She retired and spent the remaining years traveling with her husband around the country, from coast to coast, eventually settling down in North Carolina where her only child and grandchildren live. The joys in her life came from being involved in her grandchildren's lives, encouraging both to pursue their dreams and passions with the love and enthusiasm they both have for their gifts and talents in swimming, music, and visual arts.
Helen is survived by her daughter, Betty Rose Cheely Craven; grandchildren, Hannah Elizabeth Craven, and Erle Bulla Craven, V of Winston-Salem, North Carolina; niece, Lynn Ellington Rogers, and nephew, Charles Edward Ellington, III, both from Colonial Heights, Virginia.
The family will receive friends from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm on Sunday, February 24, 2013 at the Petersburg Chapel of J.T. Morriss & Son Funeral Home and Cremation service. A funeral service will be conducted at 1:00 pm on Monday, February 25, 2013 at the funeral home. Interment will follow in Blandford Cemetery. Condolences may be registered at www.jtmorriss.com