A Celebration of Helen Elores Bevins' life will occur on
Wednesday, November 15, 2023
Viewing 10:00 a.m. -11:00 a.m.
Service at 11:00 a.m.
Liberty Worship Christian Center
19 W Baltimore Avenue
Lansdowne, PA 1905
Interment: Fernwood Cemetery
Helen Bevins
Helen Elores McNealy Bevins, affectionately known as “Sister/Aunt Sister,” was one of six
children born to the late Susie and Bleaker McNealy in Aiken County, South Carolina. She was
educated in the Philadelphia public school system, attending Martha Washington Elementary
School and Edward W. Bok High School.
At the age of 12, Sister found God and was baptized at the New Bethlehem Church.
On September 28th,1957, Helen married her childhood friend, the late Earl Winston Bevins,
from this union 5 children were born, Patricia, Earl, Sandra, Mark, and David.
She always had a calling for raising and caring, not only for her kids, but others throughout her
life's journey. Helen spent over 50 years doing work as a homemaker and child caregiver
including her time with the Christian Women's Alliance. From 1968 to 1972, Helen was a foster
parent for 9 children. She also provided child-care in her home from 1972-1988 for young
mothers who were looking for work. Throughout the 60’s to the 2000's, with her tough love
methods, honesty and realness, she found ways to also care for many of the neighborhood
boys and girls in which she gained their respect.
If Sister wasn’t baking sticky buns, water rolls, spice cake, sweet potato pie and apple pies, she
could be found putting a straightening comb to her kids' hair and every girl in the neighborhood.
Her other passion was the art of sewing and designing garments for special occasions, being a
history buff, puzzles, studying the Bible and listening to Gospel music.
In the late 80’s and early 90’s, Helen along with her husband Earl, became the caretakers for
their four grandchildren, Mark, Jean, Joyce, and Patty. The two worked in parallel to raise their
grandchildren as their own.
In 2021, Helen’s health began to decline, but her strong will to fight surprised the doctors and
she lived two more unexpected years surrounded by loved ones. In recent years, she enjoyed
movie nights with her grandkids, family gatherings, outings and singing along to songs. On
November 6, 2023, Helen was called home to be with the Lord and reunited with her loved
ones.
Helen was preceded in death by her sisters Lurlean, Eloise, Alean, brothers Cleveland and
David, close niece Dorothy, brother in laws James and Bobby, sister in laws Loretta, Dorothy,
Jean, Joyce, Malinda, and Vivian, son-in-law Charles Moye’, daughter-in-laws Margaret Bevins
and Kim Reichle and one grandson Angel.
Helen leaves behind her five children Pat A. Bevins Moye, Earl Issac Bevins, Sandra E. Bevins,
Mark W. Bevins and David A. Bevins. Grandchildren Brian Bevins, Brittney Bevins Brown, Mark
K. Bevins, Jean (Lu) Bevins, Joyce (Eli) Bevins, Patty Bevins, Michelle Lewis, Terrance Bevins,
Tyrone Lewis, Makel Bevins, Mariah Bevins, Alexis King. Great Grandchildren Jonas, Andrea,
Hassan, Benjamin X, Benjamin C, Kristopher, Brooke-Angel, Aidan, and Marlee.
Daughter-in-law Sonja Bevins, and a host of nieces and nephews, family and friends.
In Sister’s own words from a 2001 note to self:
“I am a grandmother and mother twice. I’ve been having children in my care most of my years.
I am a cook and baker by heart. I’m very spiritual, my church is wherever I am. I believe in love
and caring, and my care is love. I love children and in my care they’ll be treated as my own
