Laurie Jane Helms Bennett

Laurie Jane Helms Bennett passed away peacefully at Embracing Hospice

on February 15, 2010.  Jane was the daughter of Raleigh and Laurie

Helms, and was born in Atlanta, GA on January 2, 1932.  She had one

older brother, Lawson, now deceased, and a sister who passed away in

childhood.  Jane grew up in Decatur and graduated from Decatur Girls

High.  After graduation, she worked for Southern Bell in downtown

Atlanta, and while working there she met her future husband, Gerald T.

Bennett, a World War II veteran who was studying to become a lawyer

and a CPA.  Jane and Gerald married in 1950 at Glen Memorial Chapel at

Emory University, and settled in Decatur.  Their first two children,

daughter Andrea and Nancy, followed in 1952 and 1953.  Their son,

Bruce, came along in 1960 and the family moved to Stone Mountain.

Jane was a great mother who took a very active role in her children’s

lives, serving as a room mother, team mom, Scout leader and in many

other capacities.  She was an avid gardener and an excellent cook.

Jane was renowned for her superb sewing skills, and in addition to

taking care of her family’s needs and creating many beautiful doll

clothes, she became a professional sewing instructor for Sears, a

position she held for many years.  Jane was active in her church and

in her community, and volunteered her time for many worthy causes.

She had a wide circle of friends and family, and she and Gerald

traveled widely in the United States and overseas.  After Gerald’s

death in 1994, Jane relocated to a new home in Lilburn, Georgia, where

she continued her many civic, social and family activities.  She is

survived by her daughter, Nancy Bennett, of Lilburn, her son and

daughter-in-law, Bruce and Jan Bennett of Grayson, GA, and her

daughter, Andrea Bennett of Atlanta.  Jane had two dearly loved

grandsons, Michael and his wife, Abby, and her two

great-grandchildren, Thomas and Cab who reside in Atlanta, and Chris

and his wife Ashlee, who reside in Decatur and are expecting a third

great-grandchild.  Jane is also survived by many other members of her

extended and loving family.  A memorial service will be held at 1:00

p.m. on Friday, February 19, 2010 at the A.S. Turner & Sons Chapel,

2773 N. Decatur Road, Decatur, GA 30033, telephone (404) 292-1551.

The family will receive visitors from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at A.S. Turner &

Sons on Thursday, February 18 and one hour before the memorial service

on Friday.  Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to PAWS Atlanta,

5287 Covington Highway, Decatur, GA,   30035, telephone (770)

593-1155.