“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
~ 2 Timothy 4:7
On Saturday morning, March 9, 2024, Mary Ann Hill Calhoun Helbert of Meridianville, finished her race. Ann, as she was known by those who loved her was born on August 24, 1934 to Henry and Catherine Hill of Bristol, Virginia. The youngest of 8 children, Ann graduated in 1951 from Wallace High School, Bristol. On January 8, 1955 Ann married James William Calhoun. God blessed their family with three children. In 1965 the family moved to Huntsville, Alabama to pursue their careers with Raytheon.
Ann possessed a brilliant mind and talent for math and business. She spent the majority of her career as a Contract Cost/Price Analyst with the Government. As a working mother, Ann received a B.A. degree in Business Administration from Athens State University, Athens, Alabama.
After the passing of James in 1984, love returned to Ann’s life in the form of her childhood sweetheart, William Garland Helbert. Ann and Garland were wed on February 2, 1985. This past February the couple celebrated 39 years of marriage. Together, Ann and Garland enjoyed traveling to Bristol to visit family, celebrating holidays with the children, gardening, watching Wheel of Fortune and as we have heard both repeat, chatting with “the best neighbors in the world.”
Over the past few years as Ann’s health declined, Garland has been her constant and loving companion and caregiver. He has faithfully fulfilled his vow to love and honor Ann in sickness and in health.
If you had the joy of knowing Ann and visit her home then you were greeted with the sweetest smile and southern hospitality. She had this incredible way of making you feel seen, heard, honored and welcomed. A wonderful wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother and friend, she deposited a little of her legacy in each life she encountered.
Ann was preceded in death by her parents Henry and Catherine Hill, first husband, James W. Calhoun, Sr. and all seven siblings.
She is survived by her husband of 39 years, Garland Helbert; children, Jim (Jan) Calhoun of Harvest, Kathy Christy of Madison, Tommy (Angela) Calhoun of Decatur, Lynn (Debbie)Helbert of Abingdon, VA. She leaves behind to carry on her legacy of love and faith in Christ, ten grandchildren, Lauren Yancey, James Calhoun, Chelsea Carter, Daniel Christy, Claudia Upshaw, Caitlin Calhoun, Morgan Gean, Jason Coots, Shannon Clyne, Jennifer Farmer and 14 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, March 13 at 4pm at Hazel Green Funeral Home with Dr. Tommy Bolan and Tommy Calhoun officiating. The family will receive friends an hour before the service.
A commmittal service will be held on Friday, March 15, 11am at Glenwood Cemetery in Bristol, Tennessee.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to St. Jude Childrens Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee in memory of Mary Ann Helbert.
Hazel Green Funeral Home is honored to serve the family.
