Helen Brown

Helen Hyatt Burcham Brown, age 98, passed away August 8th at the home of her daughter in Meridian, Mississippi.  Helen was born on April 27, 1923 in Egan Park, Georgia, the sixth and youngest child of Hattie Reynolds Hyatt and Jessie Elmer Hyatt.  She lost her father at the age of 4, and eventually became her mother's caretaker until her death in 1977.  In 1941 she married the love of her life, James Leroy Burcham, who was serving in the U.S. Army, and he was deployed to the European theater during WWII.  Helen's life work was homemaker, wife and mother to her two daughters.  She enjoyed sewing, traveling, shopping, church activities, and keeping house.  She was a member of Lithia Springs First Baptist Church and was the nursery director for many years.  Her husband, Leroy, passed away on their 57th anniversary in 1999.  In 2003 Helen was remarried to Ralph Hamilton Brown, and they enjoyed 11 years together until his death in 2014.  In 2016 she moved to Statesboro to live near her youngest daughter and spent the last 7 weeks of her life at the home of her oldest daughter.

She is survived by her two daughters, Sylvia Burcham Follis of Meridian, Mississippi and Cynthia Angeline Burcham of Statesboro, Georgia; 3 grandchildren - Amee Follis Wayton (Adam) of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Randall James Follis (Melissa) of Plano, Texas, and Andrew Wade Follis of Lewisville, Texas; 2 great grandchildren - Archer Wayton and Clara Follis; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by both parents, her husbands, all 5 of her siblings and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by James F. Webb Funeral Home of Meridian, Mississippi and Roy Davis Funeral Home of Austell, Georgia.  Visitation will be held at James F. Webb Funeral Home (Meridian, MS) on Wednesday, August 11 at 10:30 a.m. and at Roy Davis Funeral Home (Austell, GA) from 1 - 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 12.  There will be a graveside service at 3:00 p.m. in Sunrise Memorial Gardens in Lithia Springs, Georgia.  In light of the current covid situation the family requests that all attendees wear face masks.

Pallbearers will be Richard Hyatt (honorary), Mike Woodham (honorary), Terry Burcham, Stanley Hyatt, Sam Hyatt, Paul Burns, Danny Harrison, and William Boyd.

The family is grateful for the loving and compassionate care given by the staffs at Benton House of Douglasville, Georgia; The Lodge at Bethany of Statesboro, Georgia; and Southern Care of Meridian, Mississippi.