Helen Burnett Savell Stancil passed from death in this life intoEternal Heavenly Life on 29 November 2008. Her passing came quietlyto her in North Carolina after enjoying Thanksgiving with family.Family was at her bedside as angels escorted her Home.

Funeral arrangements through the Brookhaven Funeral Home onNatchez Drive provide for visitation on Thursday, 3 December,between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. She will lie in state at Brookhaven FirstBaptist Church beginning at 10 a.m. on Friday, 4 December, with thefuneral service beginning at 11 a.m. Burial will follow at the RuthCommunity Cemetery. Helen had requested that in lieu of flowerscontributions be made to the Savell Stancil Memorial ScholarshipFund at First Baptist Church.

Helen was born Helen Marie Burnett as the first child of Rev.John Wesley Burnett and Amzie Doss Burnett in Hamburg, Arkansas, on20 August 1919. Her primary education was in Mountain Home, AR,where her father preached. After her mother’s death in 1931, theymoved to House, MS, where she graduated high school. She worked asa physician’s receptionist until she entered Hillman Women’sCollege. She graduated from Mississippi College after the twocolleges merged. She met and married Vernon Savell after they metat BSU meeting during these years. After World War II, she andVernon began their teaching careers at Seminary before moving tothe Ruth Mississippi School.

Their move to Ruth began their longtime lives and careers ofservice with Lincoln County Schools and later the Brookhaven schoolsystem. Many, many residents of the county have known them as theircolleagues, students and parents as they taught many years at RuthSchool, Bogue Chitto School and West Lincoln School before theiraffiliation of teaching in the Brookhaven School System. They hadbeen regular long-term members of Baptist churches in Ruth, BogueChitto, Gum Grove and Brookhaven. Helen was a member of Union HallBaptist Church and has always been active in church activities,particularly teaching Sunday School, BTU, Choir, Vacation BibleSchool, Revival and other many community activities. After Vernon’ssudden death in 1983, Helen met and married Rev. Ryburn T. Stancilof Crystal Springs, MS. Ryburn died in 1993.

Helen was preceded in death by her father, Reverend John WesleyBurnett, mother Amzie Doss Burnett, step-mother Fannie CarpenterBurnett; husbands Vernon David Savell Sr. and Reverend Ryburn T.Stancil; son Johnny Savell, Sgt. USAF; sister Oneida BurnettBrantley; and brothers Adrian O. Burnett Sgt. USAF, Arden Burnett,and Robert Burnett. She is survived by daughter Anne Savell McGeeof Brookhaven; sons Dr. V. David Savell, Jr. of Lebanon, TN, andDr. Randy Savell of Sylva, NC; brothers James Burnett of Vicksburg,Kenneth Burnett of Knoxville, TN, John Burnett of Jackson, LeroyBurnett of Brookhaven; sisters Charlotte Burnett Loper of Chatham,AL, Betty Burnett Fulgum of Jackson, Margaret Burnett Ard of Ruth,and Martha Burnett Beavers of Bogue Chitto; grandsons George McGeeof Tucson, AZ, Andrew McGee of Brookhaven, Dr. Alan Savell ofMaryville, TN, Dr. Truitt Savell of Dickson, TN, Nicholas Savell ofSylva, NC, Patrick Savell of Sylva, NC; and Jonathan Savell; 11great-grandchildren; and a host of extended family and friends.

We, her family, are pleased that God shared her life with us andnow holds her in His Eternal Care.