Naomi Helm Berger departed this life on Wednesday, March 16, 2016 from Roanoke Memorial Hospital. She was born to the late Rev. Herbert Greene and Willie Bond Helm of Ferrum, Virginia. She was raised along with her siblings as a Preacher's Kid. She was wed to the late William McKinley Berger. In addition to her parents and her husband, she was preceded in death by her sister, Ora Burton, her brothers, Oliver Helm and Rumsey Helms.
Naomi leaves a loving family to mourn her passing; three sisters, Rev. Dr. Ruth Helm Moorman (Ypsilanti, Michigan), Rev. Dr. Franci Helm Moorman (Ypsilanti, Michigan), and Florella Helm Johnson (Rocky Mount, Virginia), a daughter, Frances Jordan Davis (Rocky Mount, Virginia), one grandson and several nieces and nephews. Additionally there are numerous friends that will miss her deeply.
Naomi was a life-long and active member of the Rock Ridge Missionary Baptist Church of Ferrum, Virginia which has stood as the family's home church. During her life, she was a member of the deaconess board, the director of the youth choir, a member of the trustee board, a strong Sunday school member, and church treasurer. She loved the Lord and freely shared her belief in Jesus as her Saviour. Naomi worked within the Pigg River Missionary Baptist Association , the District Sunday School Convention, the Ladies Union and was the Secretary of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Association for 25 Years. She was a strong proponent of the creation of the Pigg River Community Center because she saw the Center as a tangible rallying point for the community.
Education was always at the center of Naomi's life. Her mother Willie was her first teacher and later Naomi joined 'the family business' becoming a third generation educator. She received both her bachelor's degree and her master's degree from Virginia State College (currently known as Virginia State University). Naomi first taught in a one-room schoolhouse and she continued her career into the consolidated school which was Lee Waid School. Later, in 1965, she was one of the original eight black educators chosen by the Franklin County School Board to begin the process to desegregate the local public school system. Naomi was assigned to Franklin County High School and eventually became the chair of the guidance department. Near the end of her career, she talked about how she would like to experience elementary guidance before she retired and she indeed served her last two years at Rocky Mount Elementary School culminating a 41 year career.
In Lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Pigg River Community Center in c/o of Wallace Menefee, Treasurer, 2320 Ruritan Rd, Rocky Mount, VA 24151 or Gideon International, www.sendtheword.org
A funeral service will be held 12:00 Noon Saturday, March 26, 2016 at the Pigg River Community Center with Rev. Roy D. Gunn, officiating. Family and friends may view at the Pigg River Community Center from 12:30 until time of visitation. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Pigg River Community Center on Friday. Condolences may be sent to www.Davis-Turner.com. Service of comfort rendered by Davis-Turner Funeral Service.