Mrs. Helen Harrelson Cannon, aged 90, died Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2002, at her home in Forrest City.
She was born Oct. 26, 1912, in Forrest City, the daughter of Pearl Crippen Harrelson and Frederick Floyd Harrelson.
Mrs. Cannon made her home in Forrest City for most of her life and was active in local affairs. She was chairman of the Forrest City Centennial Celebration in 1970, and served as county chairman for St. Francis County's Sesquicentennial Celebration in 1986. She was the organizer and first president of the St. Francis County Historical Society and served as president of the Cosmos Club of Forrest City. She also served as state president of the Arkansas Federation of Women's Clubs from 1961 to 1962, and the National Community Improvement Chairman for the General Federation of Women's Clubs in 1984. In 1968, she was appointed by the governor for a two-year term as one of Arkansas' two representatives to the U.S. Defense Department's advisory committee on women in the armed services. She taught Sunday school at First Baptist Church for over 30 years and was a member of the Womens Missionary Union.
Mrs. Cannon was preceded in death by her husband, Carroll Cannon; a sister, Martha Harrelson Clark; a brother, Frederick Floyd Harrelson; three children, Judge of Toledo, Ohio, Cathy of Dallas and Margy of Forrest City; three grandchildren, two step grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation for Mrs. Cannon will be held Thursday Oct. 31, 2002, from 5-7 p.m., at Stevens Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be Friday, Nov. 1, 2002, at 11 a.m., at First Baptist Church on Rosser Street. Burial will follow at Forrest Park Cemetery under the direction of Stevens Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church, the St. Francis County Museum or the Forrest City Public Library.