Helen Sitgraves Lathan passed away peacefully at her home, surrounded by family members, on Tuesday, November 7, 2017, at the age of 95.  She was born on March 31, 1922 in Rock Hill, SC and was the youngest of the fourteen children of the late Labe and Lillie Jordan Sitgraves.  All of her siblings, ten sisters and three brothers, preceded her in death.  They were Cynthia Sitgraves, Georgia Y. Secrest, Lillian S. Brittenum, Patsy S. Barber, Lucy S. Clemons, Nettie S. Manning, Charlotte S. Worthy, Florrie S. Russell, Mary S. Johnson, Rita S. Foote, John H. Sitgraves, Laben Dudley Sitgraves, and Thomas Sitgraves.

Helen was loved dearly and will be deeply missed by her four children, Laben Robert Lathan (Marcy Syms) of New York, NY, G. Patricia Fox of Detroit, MI, Saundra L. Hartsfield (Robert) of Durham, NC, and Lillie L. Searles of Durham, NC; six grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends.

Helen lived in Rock Hill, SC for the first 62 years of her life, except for a brief period when she lived in Winston-Salem, NC.  It was there that she began college at Winston-Salem Teachers College (now Winston-Salem State University).  She completed her college degree (B.A.) at Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, NC after her youngest child was born.  She then began her career as a 7 ^th and 8 ^th grade English teacher in the Rock Hill public schools.  During the initial phase of school desegregation, Helen was among the early group of African-American educators that were transferred to previously all-white schools.  She was beloved by many of her students and fellow teachers over her entire career.

Helen was a deeply religious person with a kind and generous spirit. During the time that she lived in Rock Hill, she was very active in the Flint Hill Baptist Church, which was like a second family for her.  For many years she was the church secretary, and she loved singing in the choir.  Although she became a single mother when her children were still young, she played a major role in caring for her aging parents. She lived simply and enjoyed gardening, preparing delicious meals, canning food from the vegetable garden, and crocheting hats, scarfs, or afghans for others.

After retiring from teaching at the age of 62, Helen moved to Durham, NC to be closer to two of her daughters' families and to help care for her grandchildren.  Their beloved Mama was always there when they needed her—when they were too young to go to school, when they were sick and needed to stay home, when they needed transportation to piano lessons, or when they just needed hugs and encouragement.  She adored each of her beautiful great grandchildren.  Although her memory and vision faded as she aged, she came to life whenever one of them sat near her, preferably on her lap, and she was overjoyed when a set of twins was recently born into the family.

Helen was a blessing to her family, who did everything that they could to support her as she aged.  Because they could not do this alone, her family is especially grateful for the loving, supportive, and competent care provided by the teams at Comfort Keepers for the past several years and Duke HomeCare and Hospice during her final weeks.

Funeral services will be held at 12noon Monday, November 13, 2017 at White Rock Baptist Church, 3400 Fayetteville St. Durham, NC with Dr. Reginald Van Stephens officiating.  Interment will follow in Raleigh Memorial Park.  The family visitation will be held from 11:00am until 12noon on Monday at the Church.