Helen Jean Jones Platt, 89, Orange

Mrs. Helen J. Platt entered eternal rest on Thursday, October 5, 2023, surrounded by her family. Mrs. Helen was born on April 6, 1934, to Andrew Jones and Almetria Carger Jones, in Oberlin, Louisiana. She was the fourth child of 13 children.

Mrs. Helen attended public schools in Allen Parish and was the Salutatorian of a class of 15 graduates. After high school, she joined the United States Military in the Women’s Army Corp and received an Honorable Discharge. Mrs. Helen was first stationed at Fort Lee Army Base in St. Petersburg, Virginia. She was a squad leader in the medical ward that served the local bases in the area.

She then was transferred to Fort Sam Houston Army Base in San Antonio, Texas where she received more nursing training and a certificate in hospital and field medical services during the Korean War. Mrs. Helen was then transferred to Fort Bragg, North Carolina and served in military hospital services receiving the wounded and deceased from the Korean War.

As she continued her military career, Mrs. Helen met the love of her life, Sargent Carl Platt Sr., who was an officer of the 82nd Airborne of Smoke Bomb Hill, North Carolina. They were married on April 25th, 1950, and to this union 12 children were born. Lionel, Marva, Andrew, Carl Jr., Calvin, Ralph, Tommy, Sharon, Linda, Warren, Almetria, and Nathan. Mrs. Helen and her husband also adopted and raised a niece, Roslyn, and a nephew, Robert.

She was an avid homemaker, cook, caretaker, and babysitter. Mrs. Helen was employed and retired from the Orange County Nutrition Center – Meals on Wheels Program, as a cook and The Stark Foundation – to Mrs. Eunice Benkenstein, as a caretaker. A host of children from the City of Orange can attest to the mothering and nurturing care from Mrs. Helen as they were safely kept in her home “with her children”, while their parents worked on their jobs.

Mrs. Helen was a kind, loving, and caring woman to so many people who would call her “Moma Platt”, because she was empathetic, supportive, and understanding to the needs and desires of everyone. Her “master cooking skills” spread to the hearts of so many people as she worked as the head cook in D.J.’s Barbeque and Restaurant of Orange, Texas. She along with her daughter and the staff catered numerous affairs and served various southern dishes including “homemade links” that ONLY her daughter - Marva, and her grandson - D.J., know the “secret recipe”. Her remaining daughters, sons, and grandsons inherited her “cooking talents” and continue to enjoy hosting family and friends for holidays, celebrations, and backyard parties.

Mrs. Helen became a member of Mount Calvary Baptist Church with her family upon their arrival to Orange, Texas in 1961 under the Reverend H.Y. Anderson – Founder, then Reverend George H. Brown, and now Pastor Dr. John H. Smith Jr. She was a long-time servant as a Program Committee Chairperson, Church Building Fund Committee Officer, a member of the Pastors Aide Committee, and an eloquent Poet and Speaker for church programs & anniversaries.

She was most well-known at church for her service as a member of the Kitchen Committee where she would lead the staff in “homemade and scratch meal preparations”. One of her fondest memories is Easter Sundays when she would get up at 4:00 am in the morning and pick-up Sister Clara Harmon and Sister Mary Nell Smith and meet up at the church to prepare the “Sunrise Breakfast” under the “security watch” of Brother Selma Hunter – who would also assist the ladies.

I guess you are wondering, “well, when did she prepare her family’s Easter Meal”? Well, it was prepared on the Friday & Saturday before with the finishing touches completed by 2:00 am on Easter Morning!

Mrs. Helen’s “happiest times” were being with her family. Better known as “Pee Wee” to her family, she was a loving and nurturing mother to her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, extended family, friends, and church family. She would lend a helping hand to all who would come her way in need and open her home up to her family. Mrs. Helen has a host of family members still living in several states in the U.S. and particularly in Orange, Texas where her baby sister, Gayle Jones Harmon, resides in her home.

As she continued her legacy of serving others and her health began to fail, she gave “all praises” to our heavenly father and often would state to her doctors – “IT’S ALL IN-GOD’S HANDS”.

Mrs. Helen J. Platt was preceded in death by her husband – Carl Platt Sr.; her sons – Lionel Platt and Carl Platt Jr.; her daughter – Marva Ann Platt Paul; her grandson – Gabriel “Gabe” Platt; her father - Andrew Jones; her mother – Almetria Carger Jones; her sisters – Annie Mae Carter, Nellie Mae Cole, Clara Bell Carston, Bobbie Ray Jones, Geneva Harmon Brown, and Joyce Marie Cole; her brothers – Robert Lee Jones and Edward Jerome Jones; and a host of in-laws from Charlotte, North Carolina.

She leaves to cherish most precious memories with her loving sons - Andrew L. Platt (Eva), Calvin Platt (Deatrice), Ralph L. Platt (Marie), Tommy W. Platt, Warren “Jack” Platt (Zena), and Nathan H. Platt; her loving daughters - Sharon Y. Platt (Ashton), Linda F. Platt-Bryant, and Almetria Platt-Deon (Marvin); her adopted niece and nephew raised with her family - Roslyn Cole (Mark) and Robert Jones (Tina); her brothers – Booker T. Jones (Patricia) and Roland Jerry Jones (Diane); and her sisters – Betty Jean Johnson and Gayle Jones Harmon; 26 grandchildren, 35 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren; and a godson – Michael Spencer.

A host of nephews, nieces, other relatives, and family friends will forever cherish her memory.