AMORY—Helen Wright's mother was a wonderful cook and worked outside the home after her dad passed away. She always cooked, and Helen and her sister were the dishwashers.

“I cooked very little before I married my husband, Billie Wright. We shared cooking skills, which were kind of limited at our age,” Wright said. “As long as Billie was living, we shared all the cooking, whether it was for guests or just us. He was really the better cook.”

Helen Wright and her husband have two children, Bert and Alysia. She has four grandchildren, Adam Wright, DeAnna Wright, Hunter Ashcraft and Mallory Ashcraft Jordan, and two great-grands, Alexa Jordan and Averie Ashcraft. “My children and their families like the same menu, so I never worry about what to prepare for them – fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, green beans, corn, rolls, sour cream cake and boiled custard,” she said. “Brownie trifle, caramel cake and apple dumplings are also always present.” Her family had homemade biscuits every morning, unlike what she fixes now. “I have been making caramel cakes for about 10 years. Caramel cakes are a favorite of most people,” Wright said. “Desserts are my favorite to bake.”

When Wright's family was planning a family reunion several years ago, family members were asked to share some of their favorite recipes, as well as their mothers' recipes. “That was a real adventure. They were all sent to me, and several cousins came to my house to help put it together,” she said. “Since then, I have made several different cookbooks. Both sides of our families are famous for having family reunions. Everyone had their favorite recipe to bring and would share the recipe, so it was easy to get them assembled into a cookbook.”

Helen Wright is an active member of First Baptist Church. She is also a 50-year member of the Order of the Eastern Star, where she served as Worthy Grand Matron for the State of Mississippi from 2009 until 2010. She was also appointed to serve on the Heart Committee for General Grand Chapter the last Triennium, which was 2012-2015. “I have to stay busy, so in my spare time, I am doing a lot of scrapbooking,” Wright said. “I think it is important for the family to know about their relatives.”

Obituary

Helen Faye Reece Wright, 87 passed away on Friday, June 21, 2024 at North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo.
 
Helen was born on October 4, 1936 in Becker to the late Bert and Eulalia Thornton Reece.  She was a graduate of Becker High School and married Billie Wright in 1954.  Helen was well known through out Monroe County for her outgoing, friendly and welcoming personality.
Her working career as an optometrist assistant spanned nearly 40 years where she worked for Dr. Hodges, Dr. Pierce and lastly Dr. Powell.  She enjoyed each visit with her many patients and took great pride in helping them choose their glasses.  

Helen was also a staple and key figure in the Order of the Eastern Star. She was initiated into the Eastern Star on April 1, 1963.  Helen would spend the rest of her life promoting and making a positive difference in the world with charitable works, lasting friendships and loving kindness to all mankind.  Helen would serve as Grand Representative, District Deputy Grand Matron and in 2009 she was elected to serve as the Worthy Grand Matron of the State of Mississippi.  Lastly Helen served a 3 year term as General Grand Chapter Committee Member which was a worldwide position.  Helen dearly loved her Billie and together they traveled to many Eastern Star Meetings and events.  

Helen also adored her family and never missed a special event, birthday or holiday.  Memories of her caramel cake are very much alive to her family this day.  Helen found great joy in entertaining her family, especially for their annual Christmas Breakfast each year.  She would often tell how Billy cooked breakfast for 94 people and all she had to do was entertain.
 
Helen was also a faithful servant of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, often sharing her faith everywhere she went.  She was a faithful, longtime member of First Baptist Church in Amory, where she never missed a prayer meeting.  In her later years, she enjoyed attending the Amory Abundant Life Group twice a week.

Helen is survived by her children Bert Wright (Freida), Becker and Alysia Wright (Jason), Amory; brother, John Reece (Carolyne), West Point; grandchildren, Adam Wright (Shanon), Colorado Springs, CO, Hunter Ashcraft (Desiree), Hatley, Deanna Williams (Paul), Becker and Mallory Carpenter (Dallas), Amory; great grandchildren, Alexa, Averie, Greyson, Kennedy, Kolbie Collins, Beau and Legend; a host of nieces and nephews; lifelong best friend, Kay Elliott.

In addition to her parents, Helen is preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, Billie Wright; sister, Virginia Ann Ramage; brother B.A. Reece, Jr.