Thomas C. Strickland & Sons Funeral Home, Effingham Chapel
912-754-6421 (fax) 912-754-3426
P.O. Box 295
Springfield, GA 31329
Gracie Ashton Rahn Helmly
Rincon – Gracie Ashton Rahn Helmly, 97, died at home Thursday, December 23, 2010.
She was the widow of Freddie R. Helmly. She was born February 3, 1913, in Effingham County and lived in the Berryville community most of her life. She was a faithful member of the Springfield United Methodist Church. She was a member of the Georgia Salzburger Society and also a charter member of the Historic Effingham Society.
She was the daughter of Cora Exley and George Quantock Rahn and the last surviving sibling of six brothers: Merrill, Artis, Roy, Kenneth, Harris, and Corley; and one sister: Miriam.
Survivors include her children: Ann and Donald Austin of Savannah, Ashton and David Short of Jackson, Glenda and Roy Newkirk of Rincon, and Erma and Ronald Hiers of Savannah; her grandchildren, Mark Austin, Charlotte and Steve Austin, Travis Austin, Debbie and Tim Schroeder, Michelle Short, Ronnie Hiers, Suzanne and Chad Durrence, Lori and Ben Newkirk, April and Nicholas Newkirk, Allen Newkirk, and Gwen Newkirk; five great-grandchildren; her faithful caregiver, Sarah Goldwire; and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.
Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Monday at Springfield United Methodist Church. Mrs. Helmly will lie in state from 10 a.m.
Interment will be in Jerusalem Lutheran Church Cemetery.
Memorials may be given to the Spanish Oaks Hospice, 8510 Whitfield Avenue, Savannah, GA 31406 or the Springfield United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 237, Springfield, GA 31329
Thomas C. Strickland & Sons Funeral Home, Effingham Chapel. 912-754-6421