Mrs. Helen Elise McMillan passed away on October 23, 2022, in Huntsville, Alabama, where

she had moved to be near family. She was 97 years old at the time of her death.

She was born on March 25, 1925 in McComb, Mississippi, to Harry L. Marsalis and Lillian

Holland Marsalis. She attended McComb Public Schools, participating in choral groups, and

along with a younger sister and a neighborhood friend, the late Rosabeth Sorrels, became part

of a vocal group. She graduated from McComb High School in June 1943 and from Draughon's

Business College in Jackson in July 1944.

In 1949, she married Gerald McMillan, also a native of McComb, and after traveling the United

States, eventually settled in McComb, where her husband established a law practice. They

raised three daughters, Gigi, Toni, and Savannah.

Helen Elise was active in the community throughout her life. As a member of the McComb

Junior Auxiliary, she served in a variety of offices. She found time to volunteer for the local

Parent-Teacher Association, serving as a room mother for six years, a room mother chairman,

recording secretary and chairman of PTA sponsored study groups.

In the McComb Garden Club, she served in such capacities as flower show chairman, second

vice president, parliamentarian, and president. She was the Busy Bee Junior Garden Club

leader for four years and was presented a life membership in the Garden Clubs of Mississippi.

She enjoyed membership in the Nautilus Club for years, serving as recording secretary, vice

president, and president, and was a member of the courtesy and yearbook committees. She

was also a faithful member of the Judith Robinson chapter of the National Society of

Daughters of the American Revolution, and was elected second vice regent, program

chairman, and conservation chairman of the chapter. She was also an active member of the

Colonial Dames.

She devoted time to her church, Centenary United Methodist Church for many years in the

role of nursery song leader and teacher. She was a Family Life Coordinator, director of Bible

School, Bible Study Leader, and a member of the United Methodist Women for over 30 years.

Her accomplishments over the years led to perhaps her proudest moment, her selection as

Junior Auxiliary Azalea Queen in 1985.

Her daughters remember her as a seamstress extraordinaire, a lethal killer of fearsome bugs,

and a formidable bridge player. She taught them bedtime prayers, and sang them to sleep

with hymns. She was game for adventure, such as the time she explored the woods of

Chatawa to find a bathtub mysteriously placed there. She loved a good laugh.

She aimed for an original take on things, and thrived on standing out in the crowd. This was

most often expressed in creative performances for her friends and family, using costumes,

skits, and songs. She was often the life of the party, and, always, one of a kind.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Harry and Lillian; her stepmother, Ilva Marsalis; her

first child, Karen Leslie, who died at birth; her sisters Joy Godbold, Adeline Brown, and Lillian

Marie Marsalis, and her husband, Gerald.

She is survived by her younger sister, Betty Lee Tucker; daughters, Georgia Gail (Gigi) Bullman,

Toni Bailey, and Savannah Fung; grandchildren, John Eric Bullman, Brooke Elise Bullman

Wachs, Charles Bailey, Alexandra Fung, and Matthew Fung; and her great grandchildren, Jake

and Caleb Bullman, and Warren and Lydia Wachs.; and a legacy of community contributions

and colorful stories.

A visitation will be held Saturday, October 29, 2022, at Sharkey Funeral Home in Summit, MS beginning at 1:30PM until time of service  at 2:30PM. A graveside service will follow immediately at Hollywood Cemetery in McComb, MS.

The family requests memorials be made in her name to the Sunday School ministry at

Centenary United Methodist Church, 500 Delaware Avenue, McComb, Mississippi 39648.

To share condolences please visit www.sharkeyfuneralhome.com .