Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 22, 2011 at 11 a.m. in East Jerusalem Baptist Church in Picayune for Mrs. Helen McWilliams Merit, 55, of Picayune who passed away Friday, January 14, 2011 in Slidell Memorial Hospital.

The Rev. Ken Dees will officiate at the service, assisted by the Rev. Brian Dees. Burial will be in the Picayune Cemetery under the direction of Baylous Funeral Home.

A native of Picayune, she was employed by West Palms Beach School District. She was a member of the Apostle Church of God Church in West Palms Beach, Fla., and a missionary of Apostle Church of God.

She was preceded in death by: her parents, Albert and Sue Nell McWilliams Sr.; two sisters, Alberta Spears and Ruby Nell Tolbert; and one brother, Albert McWilliams Jr.

Survivors include: her husband, Bernard J. Merit of West Palms Beach; two sons, Timothy Crouse of West Palms Beach and Tyrone (Kayla) Crouse of St. Petersburg, Fla.; one daughter, Sharon Merit of Florida; three brothers, Rosvelte Tolbert of Florida, Reginald Tolbert of Florida and Rodrick Tolbert of Florida; four sisters, Mary Clark of Florida, Johnnie Johnson of California, Lucilla Jenkins of Picayune and Frances Shelton of Sandy Spring, Ga.; 22 grandchildren; one great-grandson; and two God sons.

Baylous Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Visitation will be Saturday, January 22, 2011 from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. in East Jerusalem Baptist Church.