Helen V. Branch

Helen Virginia Branch, daughter of Henry Bazemore, and Virginia Riddick, was born in Baltimore Maryland on December 31, 1928. Helen was raised by her loving Uncle Charles and Aunt Emma Hyman, along with her cousin, Alphonso Riddick, Alphonso preceded Helen in death. Helen was a unique person; determined to beat the odds when diagnosed with breast cancer and she did just that! Helen was a 15 year breast cancer survivor. Helen was educated in the Baltimore City Public Schools and in 1949 graduated from Frederick Douglass High School. She furthered her education at Cortez W. Peters Business College and she graduated 1952. Helen began a long and fulfilling career with John Hopkins University. She was an administrative assistant in the Biomedical Engineering Department from which she retired after 35 years of service. She was very passionate about her work and loved helping the medical students with their research. She was known “as the one person always ready to help with a smile.” On October 6, 1951, Helen was joined in holy matrimony to Thomas Branch. They were together for 46 years, and from this union they were blessed with a son, Gregory, and a daughter, Kim. At an early age, Helen gave her life to Christ and was a member Payne Memorial AME Church. While a member there, she was crowned as “Miss Payne,” queen for day. She also completed the prescribed course of study to become a Sunday School teacher. Helen later became a member of Providence Baptist Church and was baptized on March 15, 1981. She was a dedicated worker of the Douglas E. Summers Progressive Workers Club and she sang on the Women’s Chorus. Helen was quite a fashionable dresser. She loved shopping for the latest styles. Her love for travel with family and friends resulted in many grand adventures to various places. She enjoyed many happy times with a close group of friends known fondly as “The Rat Pack”. Her passion for gardening resulted in Helen receiving various awards. She also loved to sew and made clothes, curtains and other articles, and she enjoyed crocheting, Quietly on December 3, 2016, while at Newave Assisted Living, Helen entered Eternal Rest. She was preceded in death by her dearly beloved husband, Thomas H. Branch. She leaves to cherish her memory, a son, Gregory, his wife Jennifer; a daughter, Kim; a very close caring cousin, James Williams, other loving cousins, nieces, nephew;, a dear and devoted friend, Elsie Hackett, and a host of extended relatives and friends.

Tributes

Helen V. Branch

December 31, 1928 - December 3, 2016