Ned Brinson Helms

Ned B. Helms passed peacefully from this world on Friday, October 15, 2021. Memorial service for Ned will be at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 19th at Central United Methodist Church, 806 S. Hayne St., Monroe, NC 28112. Family will receive friends in Central Hall prior to the service from 10:00 - 10:45 a.m. Masks are respectfully requested during the visitation and service. Ned was born on January 10, 1940, in Fairfield, NC to the late Goldie and Fulton Helms. He is survived by his wife of thirty years, Rena McGee-Helms, his children, Scott Helms, Celestia Roseman and Christopher Price as well as his sister, Buena Ann Presson, and brothers, Larry Helms (Shirley) and Richard Helms. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Dorothy Simpson, and brothers, Jimmy, Bobby and Rodney Helms. At the age of seventeen, Ned enlisted in the North Carolina Army National Guard and later served in the North Carolina Air National Guard as well, for a combined nine years. Ned worked for Belk Department Store for forty-one years, beginning on the sales floor then becoming a buyer for the shoe department and finishing as Operations Manager for Belk Store #001 in Monroe, NC. He was instrumental in helping to make the transition from the downtown Monroe location to the mall location on Hwy. 74. Throughout Union County, it was a common occurrence for people to see Ned riding his bicycle on his days off from work. He became an avid cyclist, often riding up to 100 miles in one day. His trips included several rides from one end of the Blue Ridge Parkway to the other. One day while riding on the Blue Ridge Parkway, Ned happened upon the opening of the Linn Cove Viaduct and became the first bicyclist to cross it. He participated several times in the Assault on Mt. Mitchell and once rode from the Tennessee/NC border at Duck, TN until he dipped his tire in the water at Nags Head, NC four and half days later. Ned loved his family, near and far. He often asked Rena for updates on social media and thoroughly enjoyed seeing all the pictures of nieces and nephews and their children. Ned’s family would like to express their deep appreciation to Hospice of Union County for their compassionate care for Ned over the past eighteen months. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of Union County, 700 W. Roosevelt Blvd., Monroe, NC 28110. Online condolences may be made at www.gordonfuneralservice.com Gordon Funeral Service & Crematory, 1904 Lancaster Ave. Monroe, NC 28112 is caring for the Helms family.