Helen Elizabeth Porter

Helen E. Porter, 101, Austintown, departed this life on Saturday, June 10, 2023 in Austintown Healthcare Center.

 

Helen was born September 1, 1921 in Youngstown a daughter of Bert and Clara Ford Jackson. Helen attended Youngstown City Schools and graduated from Chaney High School in January of 1939. She was a lifelong resident of the Youngstown area where she held various jobs with the city schools, South Side Hospital, Urban League and the NAACP. She was the proud mother of 4 children, Raymond A Griffin, Sharmette M. Griffin Austin, and reared her niece as her own from her first marriage to Roy Austin Jr, in November of 1942, (now deceased), and Kevin L. Porter and Denise T. (Charles) Wallace from her second marriage to Shelby Porter also deceased. 

 

Helen united with Mahoning Ave AME, now known as Price Memorial AME Zion Church at the age of 8 years old, under the leadership of Rev. A. C. Bell and became the proud member of the Buds of Promise under the leadership of Mrs. Rose Gidney and was a lifelong member where she served on the first Usher Board, which she helped to organize with the late Mrs. Iona Mauzy Wright and Mrs. Marguerite Jackson Martin. She also was a member of the choir and was a class leader. 

 

Helen will be sadly missed by her children Sharmette Austin, Kevin Porter,  Denise Wallace, and Shawn Cotton, grandchildren, Blaine A. (Janette) Griffin, Aaliyah (Leslie) Jackson, Ragen Griffin, Amber Alexander, James and Jonathan Wallace, and Russell Cotton, 7 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, and  cousins.

 

She was preceded in death by her husbands, her parents, her beloved son, Raymond A. Griffin, her 2 brothers, Ernest and Charles Jackson, 2 sisters, Catherine Walker and Margaret Martin, her daughter-in-law, Marva Griffin, her nephew, Richard E. Jackson, and her cousin Mrs. Corrine Bevly.

 

Funeral service will be Wednesday, June 21, 2023 at 11 am at Price Memorial AME Zion Church. Friends may call from 10-11 am on Wednesday at the church.

 

PLEASE REMEMBER TO WEAR YOUR MASK WHEN ENTERING THE BUILDING.

 

F. D. Mason Memorial Funeral Home was given the extreme honor to serve the family during this time of bereavement. We are honored and grateful for choosing our services.