Mrs. Helen Elise Binns

February 20, 1930 - October 7, 2021

Helen Elise Durham was born in Gibsland, Louisiana, on February 20, 1930. She was the 8th of 12 children (5 boys, 7 girls). Helen attended Booker T. Washington High School in Shreveport, Louisiana. It was in Shreveport that she met he husband, who at the time was serving in the U.S. Air Force. They were married on August 4, 1950. Upon completing military service in Puerto Rico, they settled on the south side of Chicago, Illinois. Helen had grown up with a respect for God and the Bible, however, she was disappointed with religion. Over the years, she had accepted literature from Jehovah’s Witnesses. She had even been contacted by missionaries while living in Puerto Rico. Later in the early 1970’s she began a serious study of the Bible. In 1972, she dedicated her life and was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Soon her husband and five of her children joined her in serving Jehovah. In 1986, she retired from Illinois Tool Works in order to serve as a regular pioneer. She spent over 16 years serving as a full-time volunteer helping others to know about Jehovah God and his purposes for man. Anyone who knew Helen well would tell you how much she loved her family. She was always there to help her children and grandchildren. Helen was a wonderful hostess. She loved to prepare “Sunday Dinner” where she labored for hours in the kitchen preparing delicious meals. After dinner, she loved to engage in a “friendly” game of Bid whist (cards). Helen loved to go. She loved shopping, eating at restaurants and going to concerts. She especially loved traveling around the world. She toured across the United States, (including Alaska and Hawaii), the Caribbean, Mexico, Europe, Scandinavia and the Mediterranean. A highlight of one of her travels included attending an international convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses in 1990. The convention was held in the Czech Republic. On Thursday, October 7, 2021, she fell asleep in death after various bouts with cancer. Preceding her in death are her late husband, her son, and 11 siblings. Helen will be deeply missed by her family and friends. We look forward to seeing her again soon in God’s new world, where sickness and death will be no more.