Helen C Hubbard-Cockrell

f1elen Cockrell lived in an age of wonders..to an age of wonder: 100 years, 8 months and 6 days. And to her, it was all a blessing. She drew the first of roughly 4,414,000 breaths on Tuesday, May 24, 1910, in the house where her younger sister, Virgima Blake, still resides. Only two generations removed from slavery, f1elen Lucinda Carter was the eleventh of dairy farmers Williaus Ulysses Carter, Sr., and Carrie Arleatha Reed Carter's fifteen children. f1er siblin~s: Pearl Carter, Myrtle Williams, (Carrie) Arleatha Gooch, MattIe Carter, Williaus (Bud) Carter, (Alma) Dora f1ayes, Esther Munford, Viva Potter, Paul Carter, Alice Carter, Logan Carter, Jean Riddle, and their parents were there to greet her on the other side where she could, at last unburden her heart from carrying their memories. She cherished her siblings' children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and even their great-great-grandchildren. Where some people might collect stamps or coins, f1elen collected relatives, the children and grandchildren of cousins scattered in the black diaspora, to introduce them to the restof their blood kin. And, she knew them all by name and lineage. She attended their christenings, weddings, graduations, and all too often to suit her, their funerals. But she was always there to remind them of who they were, where they came from and why their very being was a testament to those who came before. f1elen married Brooks (Bud) f1ubbard, Sr., and helped raise his sons, Brook Jr. (Little Bud), and William. They built a house less than 100 yards from the place where she was born and where she would spend the rest of her life. Cancer claimed Little Bud. After Bud Sr. passed away, she found love again and married Wheeler Cockrell, Sr. Together, they guided his son, Wheeler Jr. to manhood. She was widowed once more, but she kept her boys close and made her heritage theirs. Coming from such a large family, f1elen was accustomed to doing whatever needed to be done, whenever it needed to be done for whomever it needed to be done, especially when and how she thought it needed to be done. Although a talented seamstress, this was her true gift. Any of her relatives or close friends can attest that saying "no" to her was never an option. Whether at her legendary Christmas Open f10use celebrations or impromptu luncheons, she paid caterers but directed "volunteers" of her nieces and nephews. Nearly 180 relatives and friends from her longtime associations with Asbury United Methodist and Cote Brilliante Presbyterian Churches attended her 100th birthday party at the Cabanne f10use in Forest Park. She insisted that she did not want any part in the planning or execution of the event but she followed-up every detail every day until the event. Everyone who came will remember that f1elen danced at her party. f1er decline began shortly thereafter and hastened when she could no longer live by herself. On January 29, 2011, exactly 100 years, 8 months, and 6 days after her bIrth, she rested on the seventh day. In addition to her sister, Virginia and their baby brother, Robert Carter, her boys, nieces, nephews, cousins and countless friends are now burdened with carrying her memory in their hearts. It is not a heavy burden. It is a blessing. .