Helena Blanche Samuels

A Time To Be Born: a beautiful soul treasured by many as a mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend, peacefully departed this earth to join her heavenly Father on Sunday, March 30, 2025. Helena Blanche Stribling Fudd Samuels (Sissie) was born on July 16, 1948, in Warrenton, Virginia, to the late Mary Magdalene Settles Stribling Smith and James Edward Stribling Sr. As the second of eleven children and the oldest granddaughter of the late Ruth and Robert Settles, she held a special place in her family.

She was educated in Fauquier County School System. She attended Central Elementary School and Taylor High School. Her dream was to become a hairdresser. She left home at age 16 with her friend and Aunt, Dorothy Settles from Fauquier County to Washington DC. Upon arriving in Washington DC, she found employment with a family (Rogers) taking care of their home. During that time that was a popular type of job. But Helena did not leave her dream behind. In addition to working for the Rogers, she worked in the beauty shops in downtown DC learning how to style wigs. The Rogers family grew quite fond of Helena and, apparently, admired her because when they started their family, they allowed Helena to take care of them. She loved the Rogers and talked about her life and the things she learned from them all the time. A dedicated worker, Helena balanced her responsibilities with the Rogers family while working for Ford Motor Company and also styling wigs in downtown District of Columbia.

Helena married, had her first daughter and named her “Bernadette” after one of the children of the Rogers. She joined and attended People’s Community Baptist Church for many years under the leadership of the late Pastor Thomas Baltimore (cousin).

She joined Mt. Calvary Baptist Church in 1988 under the leadership of Reverend Leon Grant until his retirement. She became very good friends with him and his wife. They helped her through many difficult times in her life and also renewed her faith in God. She remained at Mount Calvary until the day of her death under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Brian O. Bellamy. Helena was a member of many ministries, i.e. Greeters, Women’s, and Prayer. Helena attended a prayer program at Mount Calvary the day before her death. She told family members about it and about the great time she had.

Before getting into the actual hairdressing business, Helena pursued a modeling career. She taught “charm school” at Meyer Elementary School where her younger sister Jeannette attended. In this course she encouraged young girls to hold their head up – many of Jeannettes’s friends remember her to this day. She loved to teach and train young girls how to act, behave and be proud of who they are. In her career as a wig stylist, she styled wigs for many professionals that traveled to Washington, DC in the entertainment and modeling business. One of her most frequent visitors was the late Naomi Sims, who changed fashion trends as one of the first African American supermodels. Through her career of styling wigs, the doors of becoming a sought-after hairdresser were established. She worked in many hat and beauty shops in downtown Washington DC. Helena had a way of mixing up her skills early in her career.

Helena took courses, read any and everything to enhance her knowledge of hair and the business aspect of it. She attended Montgomery College and went to seminars. She believed that you always stay in a learning mode. Another great love of Helena’s was gardening. That was her medicine. She even worked at a Nursery. There she knew every plant and was excited when she learned about one that she did not know about.

Helena created a legacy that her children, grandchildren and other family members can look up to. She had a unique relationship with everyone she met or anyone that she came in contact with. They loved her for her stories and how she would just get so “excited” over things. She beat the odds and she believed that you could do anything you want to do with your life and not worry about what people say or do, “Do You!!”

After Helena’s divorce she threw herself into her work and raising her children. After her oldest son Ronald death, she shortened her work schedule and spent her time with her younger grandchildren, her youngest grandson will complete school this year.

Her assignment was completed and God called her peacefully home….

Helena's inspiring presence will be deeply missed, and her passing leaves a void that will be missed at family gatherings.

A Time to Mourn Helena had other deaths before her but the death that rocked her world as of recently was the loss of her first-born son, Ronald Edward Samuels Jr.

She was also preceded in death by her parents. A sister Annette Linda Stribling (twin to Jeannette) and her brothers, Thomas Kevin and Theodore Leroy (Ted) Stribling.

She leaves to cherish the life that she lived: two daughters: Bernadette Marie and Romona Erisha and one son, Rodney Edward Samuels; granddaughters: Samantha Marie Holt and Aaliyah Sanai; grandsons: Shaquille Equan and Kwame Domonique Samuels; daughter-in-law: Opral Latrese Samuels (the late Ronald Edward Samuels, Jr.); two sisters: Gloria Jeffers-Kole Allen (Richard) and Jeannette S. Riddick (Horace); five brothers: Samuel (Twyla), Kenneth (Marlene), Muhammad Salaam (Salima); and Warren Stribling; four aunts: Rosa Thomas; Hattie Cephas, Dorothy Settles, and Sharon Leslie; godson and nephew James Leon (JJ) Turner; oldest daughter’s god-sister that she called her goddaughter Tanya Ward, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives.

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