Obituary of Helen Boyd Summers

Services for Helen Boyd Summers, 90, will be held Friday, June 23, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. with Pastor Russell Stillwell and Pastor Kenneth Taylor officiating at the Thompson Funeral Home Chapel, 4720 Augusta Road, Lexington with burial following the service in Mt. Tabor Cemetery, Delree Street, West Columbia.  Visitation will be Thursday, June 22 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

Miss Summers passed away peacefully at home Monday, June 19, 2023.  Born October 7, 1932 in Florence, S.C., she was the daughter of the late Bernice Hoffmeyer Summers and Maklon Coyt Summers.

Helen graduated from St. John’s High School in Darlington, S.C.  In 1951 she attended business school in Columbia and left school to work with Equitable Life Insurance, retiring after 39 years.  Helen continued part time in the insurance business until the age of 84, working with Larry Goldstein, CLU ChFC, L.G. Goldstein and Associates and then with Blake D. Amick, ChfC, CFP and Associates.

Helen was a member of Mt. Tabor Lutheran Church, West Columbia and was Superintendent of Sunday School for many years, a member of the Ladies Aid Society, and on the Funeral Pall committee.  Other ministries at Mt. Tabor Lutheran Church included the children’s Sing and Celebrate and visiting each new baby in the church.  Helen and Mary Hamson visited a lot of babies as Mary made and gave bibs and Helen gave story books.  Helen volunteered for Harvest Hope and was a member of the Cayce-West Columbia Lion’s Club, being named Lion of the Year 2016.

God and Jesus Christ, and family meant everything to Helen.  It was important for the whole family to be together for gatherings, especially on holidays. Easter was Helen’s favorite and was always celebrated at her home with the Easter egg tree and Easter egg hunts. Helen learned from her mother a certain way to slice cake and gave specific instructions.  You did not want to be the cake cutter. She was also an avid fan of old cowboy shows.  Helen would not allow her nieces and nephews to call her “Aunt” Helen.  She was “Helen” to everyone.

Helen was predeceased by her parents and sister, Frances Summers Hartley.

Surviving are her nephew and nieces: Eric G. Hartley of Columbia, Kathy Hartley Cousins (Bobby) of Lexington, Allison Hartley Eddins of Hartsville, Kim Hartley Taylor (Mark) of Hartsville.  And great nieces and nephews:  Amy Hartley of Columbia, Brent Shoemake (Deanne) of Florence, Erin Shoemake Kent (Trent Doughty) of Hartsville, Phillip Hartley (Sara) of Dacula, Ga., Fran Taylor Able (Ben) of Stuttgart, Germany, Lindsey Eddins Keziah (Clay) of Charleston, Jennifer Taylor of West Columbia, Wayne Cousins of Lexington.  And several great, great nieces and nephews. 

Pallbearers for Helen’s service are Eric Hartley, Brent Shoemake, Phillip Hartley, Jennifer Taylor, Wayne Cousins, and Tyler Shoemake.

The family wishes to thank Right at Home in Home Care and Amedisys Hospice for their excellent assistance during Helen’s brief illness.

Memorials may be made to Harvest Hope, 2220 Shop Road, Columbia, S.C. 29201; Mt. Tabor Lutheran Church children’s department, 1000 B Ave., West Columbia, S.C. 29169, or Turner Memorial AME Church, 1122 Monticello Street, West Columbia, S.C. 29169.