Helen Prosser Otey was born on May 23, 1920 and died on January 16, 2019. She was the youngest of six children and grew up on a farm in Washington County, Georgia. She graduated from high school in Sandersville, Georgia, during the Great Depression. Following the completion of some business classes she moved to Gainesville, Georgia, in 1938, where her eldest brother, J.B. Prosser, was living. J.B. was employed at the Ford Motor Company in Gainesville. Helen found a position there as an assistant office manager. In 1939, she met Wilbur R. Otey, Jr., a Georgia Tech graduate working at Chicopee Mills. They were married in 1941 at the First Presbyterian Church of Gainesville. They were stationed in New York, North Carolina, and Michigan during Wilbur's officer training in the U.S. Navy. While he was serving in the South Pacific during World War II, Helen continued to manage the office at "the Ford place." After the War they settled in the Gainesville area. Many of their friendships established in the 1930's/1940's flourished for over six decades.
Helen was a devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, homemaker, friend, and neighbor. She volunteered diligently with her children's schools and scout troops and encouraged and enabled their interests in music and literature, sports and the outdoors. With Wilbur she was a faithful leader of First Presbyterian Church, which they joined prior to their marriage. She was awarded the Life Membership of Presbyterian Women in 1998 for her diverse service and was a longtime participant in the Primetime Singers and in congregational care and mission efforts. For many years she was involved with the Auxiliary of the Northeast Georgia Medical Center, especially with the Lifeline installation program. Following Wilbur's retirement from Dundee Mills, they enjoyed trips around the United States, Australia and New Zealand, Canada, and Europe, and spent many happy days camping in the mountains with friends. Helen remained in Gainesville following Wilbur's death in 2008, and moved to Foothills Presbyterian Retirement Community in Easley, South Carolina, in 2014.
She is survived by sons Rush (Debbie) Otey of Charlotte, North Carolina, and Don (Lisa) of Salem, New York, and daughter Lisa (Bo) Hunter of Augusta, Georgia, along with five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. She is also survived by nephew David Prosser and niece June Prosser, of Gainesville, nephew Julian Prosser of Wake Forest, North Carolina, a sister-in-law Elizabeth Otey Faulkner of Parkersburg, West Virginia, and other nieces and nephews.
A public graveside service will be held at Alta Vista Cemetery in Gainesville, Georgia, at 11 a.m. on Monday, January 21, with the Rev. Lee Koontz and the Rev. Shon Peppers officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 800 South Enota Dr., NE, Gainesville, Georgia 30501, or to the Chapel Fund at Foothills Presbyterian Retirement Community, 205 Bud Nalley Drive, Easley, South Carolina 29642.
Robinson Funeral Home of Easley, South Carolina, is in charge of the burial arrangements.