WINTER HAVEN – Helen Jane Treadaway Huey Poinsett, age 85, passed away peacefully on May 31, 2024 at Astoria Assisted Living in Winter Haven, Florida after suffering with Alzheimer’s Disease for ten years. She was surrounded by her family, her Helping Hand Nursing Services caregivers and her Good Shepherd Hospice Team. She was born on December 27, 1938, in Griffin, Georgia to William and Lois Treadaway.
She met her first husband, James Alex Huey, while attending Asbury Christian College in Kentucky. In the beginning of their marriage, he preached, and Helen would play the piano at the different Methodist churches that they attended in Alabama.
At the age of 25, Helen lost her mother suddenly to an aggressive cancer. She passed away in 3 months and Helen was devastated.
In 1964, the Huey’s moved to Winter Haven, Florida. He became a professor at the brand-new Polk Community College and Helen was a Homemaker.
Before they divorced, Helen went to work as a library aide at Wahneta Elementary School and went back to college. In 1976, she graduated from the University of South Florida with a Bachelor of Arts in College of Education, Library Science and Audiovisual Education. Helen made the Dean’s list, was in Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society and a member of Kappa Delta Pi (Honor Society in Education). She was then promoted to the Media Specialist position at Wahneta Elementary School.
Helen spent 30 years building Wahneta Elementary School media center from the inside out. She loved her job at Wahneta Elementary and enjoyed watching the children’s eyes fill with excitement when she read to them. She was also a Teacher of the Year nominee for Wahneta Elementary School. In 2010, the Polk County School Board voted to add her name on the media center at Wahneta Elementary School.
Helen also worked in the library and helped with the literacy council at the West Area Adult School in Auburndale. She was also the treasurer of the Greater Winter Haven Area Literacy Council.
Helen’s co-workers at Wahneta Elementary School and West Area Adult School were very dear to her.
Helen worked two jobs while raising four kids with the youngest child handicapped. Each morning, she would get her youngest child up and feed him, dress him and place him in his wheelchair before getting herself ready to go to work.
She was a member of St. John’s Methodist Church until her divorce. Then she took her new family of five to Calvary Baptist Church where they all were baptized and became members.
A couple of years after her divorce, Helen stopped to speak with a neighbor, Robert “Bob” Poinsett. He asked her out and took her to dinner at the “Top of the World” at Disney. That was the beginning of a very long courtship and then they finally married in 1988.
The Poinsett’s attended Calvary Baptist Church. They purchased annual tickets to enjoy the performances at Theatre of Winter Haven and Florida Southern College. They also had annual passes for Disney World, Cypress Gardens and then Legoland. They liked road tripping and travelled throughout the United States and into Canada where they would hike.
Helen enjoyed going to the amusement parks and water parks with her daughters and grandchildren. She rode every ride! She also enjoyed reading, sewing and working in her yard planting flowers.
Her youngest son, Darren, passed away at the age of 27. He lost his fight with Muscular Dystrophy. She also lost a grandson who passed away at age 27.
If you knew Helen, you also knew she was a strong woman who always had a positive attitude and a beautiful smile that was genuine. You would never suspect that she had been through so much loss and hardships. She was truly an inspiration. Helen was selfless, nonjudgemental and loved all people. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She is now reunited with her loved ones that she lost. Helen will be deeply missed.
Helen Jane Treadaway Huey Poinsett was preceded by her parents, sister, Frances Goodwin, youngest son, Darren Huey, and grandson, Jared Hart.
Helen is survived by her husband, Robert Poinsett, her daughters Sharon Hart (Olin), Pamela Mathews (David), son, Tod Huey, her grandsons, Jonathon Hart (Stephanie), Josh Hart (Jess), Drew Mathews (Amanda), Eddie Mathews (Katie), granddaughter, Jane Nicole Mathews, stepchildren Debbie LaBelle (Joe) and Kim Holmes (Chris), step-grandchildren, Sarah Elsokkary (Ameer), Matthew Holmes, Michael Holmes (Allison), Cody LaBelle (Fiancee Becca) , brother-in-law, Russ Goodwin, her nephews, Bill Goodwin and Glenn Murdock (Margaret), her nieces, Suzie Horn (Paul), and Shawn Nantz (Thom), seven great-grandchildren and three step-grandchildren.
The family will hold a private celebration of life at a later date.
