Helen Fortenberry Wilson, 94, left for her heavenly home from Picayune, MS on Monday, September 8, 2014 with her family by her side.

A native of Lawrence County, MS, she attended Women’s College (William Carey University) in Hattiesburg. Helen was a member of First Baptist Church of Picayune, and served on several committees. She was a member of the DAR, the Eastern Star, and Lion’s Club Auxiliary.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John W. Fortenberry and Olivia Lee Jones Fortenberry; her husband of 74 years, John W. Wilson; her brother, Dr. Marshall Fortenberry; her son-in-law, Dr. Jim Herring; and her grandson, James Ashley Herring.

Survivors include her daughters, Ann Herring of Biloxi, MS, and Libby Dobbyn and husband Geoff of Gulfport, MS; her granddaughter, Olivia Lee Tolson and husband Brian of Clermont, FL; her great grandchildren, John Ashton Herring, Dallas Herring, William Herring of Harlingen, TX, Jacob Herring of Houston, TX, Halee Tolson, Abigail Tolson, and Thomas Tolson of Clermont, FL; her devoted brother, Joe Fortenberry of Picayune, MS; her sisters-in-law, Barbara Fortenberry of Jackson, MS, Janelle Wilson of Gulfport, MS, and Margaret Walsh and husband Frank of Rio Rancho, NM; her brother-in-law, Tom Wilson and wife Ann of Ocean Springs, MS; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The visitation will be one hour prior to the 11:00am funeral service at First Baptist Church of Picayune, MS on Thursday, September 11, 2014. Interment will be in New Palestine Cemetery. McDonald Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Rev. R.T. Buckley will officiate the service.

Pallbearers are Kenneth Fortenberry, Troy Flowers, Ken Hall, Mike Pind, George Lods, and Tom Stewart.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the First Baptist Church of Picayune, REG Fund, P.O. Box 477, Picayune, MS.

The family wishes to thank Nell Crawford, Tiffany Patrick, Linda Stockstill, Joanne Davison, Stella Williams, Covenant Rehabilitation Staff, and Highland Community Hospital Staff for their devoted care of our mother and sister.

Obituary, Register Book, and Driving Directions can be found on the internet page, at www.mcdonaldfh.com