Irma Laverne Phillips Helm

It is difficult to express a lifetime in a few paragraphs.

Irma Laverne Phillips Helm  walked through heavens gates on Saturday March 4th, 2023, at 7:35 PM. She greeted our Savior whom she loves dearly and served faithfully since her conversion in the early 70’s. She succumbed to multiple complications after several falls and five weeks in ICU. She fought valiantly but she was very tired and weary from the struggle of these past few years. She was struggling with mobility issues before the fall, now she can run free and dance with joy forever. She was 84. Her son Charles Steven was blessed to be her caregiver these last many years and was by her side as she went to sleep here and woke up in Heaven forever to know the presence of our Lord. Hallelujah! She wanted to hear the words “ well done my good and faithful servant enter in now to the joy of the Lord” I believe she did.

Laverne was preceded in death by her eldest sister; Wilma Audra Brock Phillips/Edison, her eldest son, Miles M. Johns, whom she mourned as only a mother can. She is survived by three children; Peggy O. / Mike Miller, James E. Johns & Charles S. Helm, four grand children, Sabrina Johns Avery/ Mark, John Johns/Monica, Eva Johns Alverez/Daniel, Albert Miller/Kayli  and four great grand children, Zoie, Kayli & Isabella Alverez and Mikey Miller.She is also survived by her loving brother Aubrey W. Phillips Jr. & nieces; Menta Spigner, Vickie Scaglioni & Diane Torrado also a daughter in law Nancy Johns wife to Miles Johns and loved dearly as her own.

Laverne was born in Plant City FL. On October 19th, 1938 to Aubrey William Phillips & Ruby Gordon Phillips/Stanley. Her mother died tragically in a county hospital when Laverne was just five.She mourned her mother all her life. Her father suffered a fall in the ship yards and was disabled prior to her mothers death. Life was hard in the 40’s. Mom and her siblings worked in the fields harvesting the produce and going to school in Plant City then  Dade City FL.

Laverne had the gift of helps and she served everyone she knew with kindness, sincerity and loyalty. Through her career she worked food service  with the county school lunchrooms and later as a Sous chef at the former Holiday Inn Bush Gardens then the Marriot. Laverne was a born crafter. She loved crochet, needlepoint, dressmaking, blouses, and tops. Quilting became her favorite and she quilted coverings for many a bed and many a baby. In her younger days Laverne loved to fish. We’re talking a cane pole and wiggler worms. She could out fish, some of the best and pull in bigger bass with her cane pole, than the fellas using their rods, reels & fancy lures. It is said she inherited that gift from her father, who was quite the fisherman himself as is her brother JR. and her eldest & youngest sons.

Laverne will be remembered as: a prayer warrior you could count on, a confidant you could trust implicitly, a loving loyal sister, A favorite Aunt and Grandmother, full of grace, wisdom and understanding. Knew her bible front to back. Wonderful sense of humor loved to laugh and point out the obvious. Fierce when riled but quick to forgive or seek the same. A mother that no other could compare to, Who loved each of her children though the road was fraught with obstacles, deception, and ultimately treachery. She defended her youngest like a mama bear and dared anyone to try to take him from her. As we all mourn her absence here, in my heart I know she is in the presence of His majesty, surrounded by her loved ones and  she finally got to see her mother, my grandmother and my brother among the many others already there. She used to say, "There are more there than here now", the old guard is passing, it's now up to us.

It was her ultimate prayer and desire that all of her children, grand children and great grands come to a saving knowledge of Jesus not just some emotional religious experience. She knew that Jesus didn’t come just so you could have your best life now or make us rich or even make everything perfect for us. Rather she knew His call was a call for complete surrender and recognizing the horrible sinful state we exist in until we realize we need a savior, we need a rescue opp to pull us out of our mess and show us how to live differently. To be Born Again with His spirit in us. To live lives dedicated to serving God by learning to love, forgive, ask forgiveness and serve each other. The legacy Laverne Helm leaves her family is that she set the example of a redeemed life dedicated to walking the narrow, difficult, concentrated way that leads to eternal life.

To her friends, family and loved ones of Gerry Young and Pam Padget, please know that mom loved and admired you all for your wonderful differences and the way you each inspired her to strive to be a better person. You all blessed and enriched her life in ways you’ll never know. Thank you for all the support during this extremely difficult time. The hardest road I’ve had to travel so far. I can say His grace is sufficient and God “Is” good at all times, we just have to trust Him and ask for his strength to keep going one day at a time.

Blessings to you all. Maranatha