Helen Zeigler

On Monday, June 7, 2021, God sent one of His angels to bring home for eternal rest, our beloved Helen B. Zeigler.  She answered the master’s call and slipped into a peaceful sleep.  The youngest of eleven children, she was born on November 14, 1927, in New Kent, Virginia, to the late Thomas and Harriet Lou Foster Brown.  At an early age, she and her family moved to Williamsburg, where she remained a lifelong resident. 

“Mama Helen,” as she was affectionately called, attended the James City County Training School.  She was employed by Eastern State Hospital as a Certified Nursing Assistant and retired after many years of service.  She was employed by the Williamsburg-James City County School System and retired from that position, as well.  She was also employed as a Foster Grand Parent serving as an Instructional Assistant with the Williamsburg-James City County Community Action Agency Head Start Preschool Program.

Raised in a Christian home, she confessed Christ as her Lord and Savior, and as a young woman joined Mt. Ararat Baptist Church where she served as a faithful, diligent worker, and a dedicated member of the congregation.  She later joined Union Baptist Church where she worked diligently in the name of the Lord and served as a member of the Pastor’s Aid Ministry, the Missionary Ministry, and on the Vacation Bible School Committee to provide outreach to the youth members of the congregation.  Mama Helen was recognized as one of the founding members during the Founder’s Day Celebration. 

Mama Helen enjoyed spending time with her family and friends.  She was extremely proud of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and her Union Baptist Church family.  She was a beautiful, high-energy, warm-spirited, stylish “Lady.”  She loved shopping and was a great lover of fashion.  She was very well known for dressing stylishly from head to toe. 

Mama Helen has left us with an unforgettable legacy of strength, endurance, courage, and faith as her testament to God as a warrior and a Breast Cancer survivor.  Even in her weakest moments, her love still remained strong, and she was truly devoted to supporting her family in Williamsburg and New Kent.  She was an outgoing soul who loved everyone she met and welcomed you into her home with open arms and in turn, she was loved by all. 

She was predeceased in death by her beloved son, Garland E. Zeigler, and grandson, Stanley T. Zeigler Jr.; sisters, Quetta B. Vaden, Queen Ester Brown, Mary Brown, Viola B. Freeman, Marcell Flocker, and Marie Ward; brothers, Lewis Brown, Thomas Brown, John Brown, and Ray Brown; and her special nephew, Dewayne “Scooter” Freeman.

She leaves to cherish her precious memories; her sons, Stanley T. Zeigler Sr. (Marilyn) and David S. Zeigler (Doris); daughter, Beatrice J. Jackson (Wick); eight grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; a host of nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews; many loving cousins and other relatives; and her dedicated lifelong friends.  Mama Helen will be remembered for her unwavering devotion to God and her strong commitment to her family.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Helen Zeigler, please visit our floral store.