A Celebration of Life for Mrs. Helen S. Portley will be Monday, March 7, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at the Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Longview, Rev. Charles Gray, Eulogist and Rev. Dorsett Houston, Pastor. Burial Lakeview Cemetery, Longview.

Mrs. Helen Portley was born January 3, 1942 to the parents of the late Ernest Sr. and Effie Smith. She along with her siblings were nurtured to become strong believers in Christ at a very young age.

At an early age she united with Fredonia Baptist Church.

Helen attended and graduated from Fredonia High School. She attended Kilgore College and soon after was employed for over 30 years for Texas Employment Commission, from which she retired.

She is and was a loving and caring mother of two sons, Kevin A. Smith and Shawn P. Wilson. She was a pillar of the community; a part of the Community Crime Watch Program, loved to cook for her neighbors and community and was loved by all. In spite of all life's obstacles, she still fought and remained strong to the very end.

She leaves to cherish her memories her two sons; four grandchildren; three brothers, Ernest (Faye) Smith Jr. of Longview, John (Martha) Smith of Houston, Texas, Floyd (Gwen) Smith of Longview; three sisters, Jimmy (Comoses) Davis of Longview, Jessie (Boyd) Templeton of Houston, Texas and Dorothy (James) Dawson of Dallas, Texas; special friends, John and Jan McKinnon, Eric Hawkins, Bobbie Morris and Nancy of Missouri, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.