On June 5, 1934, in Eustis, Florida, Lena Richardson Furlow Wright, and James Wright, celebrated the birth of their baby girl, and youngest child, Helen. At 2:05 a.m. in the darkness of Wednesday morning, on March 6, 2024, our Heavenly Father called His daughter Helen home for her eternal rest. Gifted, talented, full of energy and excitement, even as a child, Helen Wright was very intelligent, extremely adventurous, and she loved to have fun. She had an extra special love for people, and served her church and community, just like her mama, Mrs. Lena. In Eustis, throughout Lake County, across the state of Florida, and even to other states, starting very early in her childhood, Helen had opportunities to travel with her mother. On Sundays she worshiped with her parents, 2 Sundays at her Daddys A.M.E. church, and 2 Sundays at her mothers church, Gethsemane Missionary Baptist. In the 1930s, pastors were assigned to serve 2 churches, often in different towns and cities. Wherever Helen was, and whatever she was asked to do, she always did her best. Helen Wright was a singer, and a speaker also. She acted in plays and musicals, served in multiple capacities at her church, in school, and around her community. From 6th through 12th grade, she marched in the Eustis Vocational High School Band, going all over the state to play for other segregated schools football games and special events. In those days, if a black school had a football team, they could not have a band. If they had a band, they could not have a football team, but they could have a basketball team. Those experiences ignited her lifetime love of sports. Helen Wright had the highest grades in her 1952 graduating class. However, she was denied the honor of being the valedictorian, because the Lord blessed her with a baby boy, when she was an 11th grade student. Helen held her head high, kept moving forward, accepted a band scholarship to attend the great Bethune Cookman College, and continued playing her B flat alto horn. Her life as a Wildcat, in Daytona Beach, Florida, allowed her to be a part of living history, and exposed her to new, unforgettable experiences on and off campus. Marching in the Wildcat Band expanded her love to travel. Helen Wright was able to see, hear, walk and talk with Dr. Mary Mcleod Bethune almost every day. She was also privileged to meet, greet, and perform for national and international dignitaries, with the band. Helen was a leader, and a scholar, played in the Wildcats Concert Band, participated in numerous organizations, and was selected for membership in honor societies. With overflowing pride, on November 13, 1953, she had the great honor to join Dr. Bethune as a member of her beloved sisterhood, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Helen left Daytona Beach to intern in Miami, Florida for Dade County Public Schools. She met, and later married, William B. Jackson, one of her Miami roommates friends. In 1956, Helen Wright Jackson received a bachelors degree in Elementary Education, graduating with honors. In the fall of 1956, Mrs. Jackson started her career as an educator, teaching 1st grade, in Miami, Florida, at Bunche Park Elementary, in the same neighborhood where she lived. Helen went on to teach 3rd grade at Bunche Park. For one summer, Helen was selected for a graduate education studies program at Rutgers University, in New Jersey. She had a special gift to easily form close relationships with her students families. For decades, her relationships grew stronger and closer with the Williams, Sparks, Grant, and Bain families, until she took her last breath. When integration started in Miami schools, Mrs. Jackson was one of the first Black teachers to volunteer to become a member of the all-white staff at Norland Elementary. Helen was always open and excited about experiencing something new. The summer of 1968, Helen Wright Jackson left Miami, vacationed in her hometown Eustis, then she stepped out on faith, and relocated to Tampa with her daughter. She joined Greater Mt. Carmel A.M.E. Church, and served diligently as: a Sunday School teacher, youth and choir director, missionary, pastoral assistant, choir member, and district youth department assistant director, under the leadership of her director, Mrs. Elizabeth P. Smith. When Mrs. Jackson was selected for a University for South Florida (USF) Masters degree fellowship program for black educators, she worked as a substitute for Hillsborough County Schools. After completing her masters degree from USF, she continued her education career at: Hillsborough Community College, Kingswood, Dover, Seminole Heights, Shaw, and Stephen Foster elementary schools. Helen was a curriculum specialist, reading specialist, Hillsborough County Schools Classroom Teachers Association local, state, and national representative and leader, and served as a mentor for many fellow educators. In June of 1976, Helen the adventure woman, packed up, headed to Sacramento, California to live, enjoy, and work for a year. As an educator, she taught almost every elementary grade, and ended her almost 50-year career having fun with her kindergarten students. In Miami, Helen Jackson and her children attended Greater New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, where she served as Sunday School teacher, and was a speaker and soloist throughout the city. As a member of, New Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, Helen Young served in the choir, as a missionary, and as director of the Young Adult Missionary Society. Under the leadership of Pastor Clark Everett, at Eastgate Community Church, Helen was his Pastoral Assistant, Event Coordinator, and sang in the choir. For the final decades of her life, Helen was a member of New Hope Missionary Church, serving as a member in the #1 Choir for as long as she could. Mrs. Youngs local, state, and national organizational affiliations include: the NAACP and the National Council of Negro Women, as a Life Member; former President of Hillsborough Countys Chapter of the Lupus Foundation of America, and her beloved Bethune-Cookmans Hillsborough County Alumni Association; Caribbean World Mission; TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly); and for 70 years as a proud member of her illustrious sisterhood, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Tampa Alumnae Chapter. Bethune-Cookman honored Helen for being a national leader in fundraising and student recruitment, and she won the national title, Miss Bethune-Cookman Alumni. She received an overflow of honors and awards recognizing her dedicated service, outstanding leadership, and phenomenal fundraising. In 2013, Helen Wright was a Hometown Hero, honored for her achievements as an educator, at the Eustis African American Heritage banquet, and loved being cheered for in the parade through the city. Mrs. Young was anointed "Master Motivator" enthusiastically finding ways to encourage others to participate, serve, and give. Her home was an open door for countless others. Helen loved the Lord with ALL her heart and always found joy in giving hope. On the last day of her life, she gladly proclaimed, "I am Blessed, and Highly Favored" Gone before Helen were, her parents; her siblings, Lena, Pearl, Enoch "Champ", Oscar "Buck", Walter, James, Chelcy "Pie", Ozzie Bell, Margaret, Samuel "Sambo", and 2 others; and Ruth "Snook"; her oldest niece, who was more like a sister, and was raised in the same house. Helen Wright Jackson Youngs Legacy continues on through: her children, Donald, Sr. (Gwen), Desiree A. Jackson, and Marjorie Furlow Peterkin (James) (her niece who lived with her in Eustis, and she raised in Miami); her grandsons, Donald, II (Andrea), Derric, and William B. Jackson, II; great grands, Donald, III, Dominique, and Denayah Jackson; her oldest living nieces and nephew, Lucille McClain, Barbara Ann Jackson, and Raburn Lee Williams, Sr. (Betty), dedicated and faithful niece and nephew, Oscar Furlow, Jr. (Sheila) and Loretha Faye Furlow King (Eugene), and her other 19 nieces and nephews; special grand nieces, Edith Furlow Rechard (Louis), Josephine "Delephine" Furlow Etheredge; Valeria Kay Edwards; and Dr. Lisa C. Jackson; special great grandniece, Porsche Edwards Harmon (Travis); and all of her nieces and nephews that made 6 generations in her family before she transitioned.

Mrs. Young was very much loved by her devoted Caregiver, Luwanna Burston Buchanan (Oliver) residents and family; like family, Caleb Crosby; Lavern Benton, Logan and Marquel James, Ann Sparks (3rd grade student/birthday girl) and Linda Williams; Marsha Williams (1st grade student) and family; Allen A. Buchanan(Lynette and daughters; James Austin and Monica Austin Buggs (Ronnie); Janice Carter Collier (Troy); Marecia Tolbert; Carmi Thomas Brown (Ty and children); Dr. Inez V. Joseph family; Florine Chatman; Penny Livingston and Sharry Covington; Carla Johnson; Oscar Knighten; Betoria Watson and family; Gina Petty Sanders and Jackie Grant; Elder Harry Harris (Deborah); caring neighbor, Kenneth Andrews; faithful friends: Elyse Livingston Powell (Winston), Estella Keith, Edna Carlman, Judy James Newberry, John Douglas, Carole Gordon, Juanita and Oscar Young; her loyal Bethune-Cookman Delta Line Sisters and Classmates for over 70 years: Nellie Barr Wilder and Inez Moore Holt; devoted Delta Sisters: Doris Scott, Vivian Kitchen, Olivia Carmichael-Brown, Edith Randolph, Christine Jones Lewis, Jewel Hamilton, Cheryl Wyatt George, The Odom, Thomas, Bronson, Gibson, Goodings, and Niles families.

Visitation
Thursday, March 14, 2024
4:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Aikens Funeral Home
2708 E Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd
Tampa, FL 33610

Funeral Service
Friday, March 15, 2024
2:00 PM
New Hope Missionary Baptist Church
3005 E Ellicott St.
Tampa, FL 33610