Since last June, she has helped 28 families bury their loved ones—mostly young people who were the victims of violent crimes. Sadly, that number is growing.

Williams first helped bury someone in 1996 when young Charles Johnson stuck his head out of a school bus window and his head was pinned between the bus and a tree. Last June, Brian Cole, her grandson’s basketball-playing best friend, died.

“I wanted to send flowers but no funeral arrangements had been made. I got involved,” Williams said.


Multiple funerals
Helen and her husband Jerry moved to North Minneapolis, where they operate a furniture business, 36 years ago. Now at age 55, she’s burying her grandson’s friends.

“Planning Brian’s funeral was traumatic. I thought I would never have to do this again for a kid,” Williams said. “Within a month, my son phoned saying, ‘Mom, Marcus is dead.’ Marcus White was our neighbor. His family asked me to help. I remember telling my husband, ‘I can’t do this. It’s too close.’”

Jerry Williams said, “Helen, they need you. You’ve got to think in terms of Marcus and his family.”

Marcus was killed July 13, 2006, on his mom’s birthday.

“He was a very good kid, intelligent, with a good sense of humor,” said his mom, Teaoni White. “He would have started college in August. Without Helen, I don’t know where I’d be. Marcus had the most beautiful funeral I’ve ever been to.”


Requests increase
Since Marcus’ funeral, Williams gets calls from nearly all local families losing loved ones through violent crime. She responds to requests from any families lacking resources to provide burial. Last year 60 percent of the needs were from homicide victims and 40 percent from families simply lacking resources.

When Alfredia Riddley’s brother died in a car accident in Seattle, she didn’t have the funds to bring his body home.

“Helen found a way. She’s incredibly committed,” Riddley said. “This little lady works until she can’t work any more for her families.”

“I’ve stopped wondering why; it’s a part of who I am,” Williams said. She helped plan the funerals of 12-year-old Destiny Powell, hit by a car, 4-month-old Zy’aire Steward and 7-month-old Daniel Long. In January, she helped plan funerals for Mosetta Peters and Ja`naurri Allen, a young couple murdered while sitting in a car in Brooklyn Park, leaving behind Mosetta’s 3-year-old daughter.

As of mid-February, she had assisted in 11 funerals in 2007 already.

“It makes me feel proud to help families get their loved ones buried,” she said. “Otherwise they’d have to choose between paying rent and other necessities and giving loved ones a dignified burial.”

Locally, 90 percent of violent crime victims are young kids. The funerals Williams arranges are free to families and personalized for each individual. She serves as a funeral consultant helping them consider options and be aware of state and/or federal funds.

Victim’s families may qualify for state crime reparation payment or Hennepin County burial cost ($1,935 maximum). So far, no family has had adequate insurance or means to cover burial.

Williams is a necessary liaison between victims’ families and the funeral homes, cemetery representatives, and government procedures. She’s learned to help families buy flowers, grave plots, and find quality caskets and monuments at discount. She makes food arrangements, designs funeral programs with memorial pictures (often at Kinko’s until 3 a.m.), secures churches and more.


Churches, ministries pitch in
“Shiloh Temple International Ministries, True Vine Missionary Baptist and Zion Baptist Church have allowed families to use their churches,” Williams said. “Their members have also cooked and served food. I usually attend the funerals to support family members, and afterwards make sure that thank you cards get mailed.

“Mary Jo Copeland of Sharing and Caring Hands gives wonderful, practical help,” Williams added. “She is a rock of salvation in North Minneapolis. Without her, I don’t know what we’d do.”

Last Christmas, Helen and Jerry gathered over 120 people members of families she has arranged funerals for.

“They’re extended family now. Again the Copeland’s made sure I had gifts for everyone,” she said.

Williams wants to do more to help her neighborhood. She doesn’t like being held hostage in her own community, hurrying home to be inside by dark. Nearly 80 percent of Minnesota’s violent crimes in 2006 were in North Minneapolis. She’s lobbying for change. Williams would like to see grief counseling available in the community.

“With crisis comes activity all day long. Victims’ families wish they could go somewhere to rest their heads and have safe activities for other children,” Williams explained.

She pictures a big house where people come and go, and she and other volunteers could help them. So far she has helped bury four moms representing four or five children, so foster care and custody matters are also necessary issues.

“During crisis, these people establish a bond and have ongoing needs. If I had the resources, I’d do my best to supply them, always providing final dignity with love,” Williams said.

Last October, Williams received The Sullivan Ballou Award given to recognize and support people making important contributions to their communities. She used the accompanying $1,000 cash to pay unmet funeral expenses her family could not absorb.

In November 2006 she received the Minneapolis Park and Recreation “Above and Beyond Award” as volunteer of the year for people leading the way in their communities.


Helen Williams can be reached by e-mail at hwill1418@aol.com.

Donations to her ministry can be made by mail through True Vine Community Services based in True Vine Missionary Baptist Church, 2639 Thomas Ave. N., Minneapolis, MN, 55411, or by phone at (612) 521-6611.