Helen Laurence Howard was a native of
Florence, Alabama, the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Francis Howard. She is
survived by her daughter Lauren Carroll and her son Jack Carroll.
She grew up on Wood Avenue in Florence, attending the Kilby School and graduating from Coffee High School.
Helen was a graduate of the University of North Alabama, studying theatre and journalism. While attending UNA she was
active on the stage. She is a charter member of the Gamma Psi Chapter
of the Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority, selected by a panel from
International.
Growing up Helen developed an interest in the
stage. She would joke that she was almost baptised in a theatre. First
Presbyterian Church in Florence was being renovated at the time and was
using the Alabama Theatre for services. Her mother made arrangements to
have her baptised at another church.
She was active in the
production of the play "The Miracle Worker" in Tuscumbia, Alabama at Ivy
Green, Helen Keller's home. As a small child she wrote to Keller (and
received a response), happily telling her that she was named Helen, too.
Helen was at Ivy Green working on the play the night Helen Keller died. Helen
started in the play in one of the children's roles, and after many years
increased her participation, eventually directing the play for several
years. During her tenure as director new sets were built and
professional lighting was added. Once while she was directing she was
asked to portray Keller's teacher Anne Sullivan in a segment on the
television series "American Lifestyles". She last visited Ivy Green in
2011 to attend a production of "The Miracle Worker".
Helen also
got her start in broadcasting in the Shoals, working at AM radio
stations including WLAY and WBCF (the former WOWL). She started in
television as an anchor on WOWL-TV. She later worked at WQLT-FM, a
station owned by Sam Phillips of Sun Records fame. She loved to tell how
Phillips called her "Little Lady".
She was also a competitive
swimmer as a child. Growing up she would practice at a nearby hotel
because they had a large pool. It was at this hotel where most of the
artists stayed when they visited the Shoals to record. Helen met many of
these musicians, and had plenty of stories to tell, from her and her
school friends hanging out with the Osmonds during their free time when
they were recording at FAME to being in the studio when Lynyrd Skynrd recorded the original demo version of "Free Bird".
Helen said she never intended to make broadcasting a career, with her
interest being the stage, but a small job at WAAY-TV in Huntsville,
Alabama changed her life's path. She was originally hired to work on a
morning show, but one day they needed someone to fill in as an anchor.
Though some at the station doubted she was ready, the show must go on
and she did the job. She worked at WAAY-TV several years as a producer,
anchor and reporter.
More career opportunities were presented
to Helen and she followed the path upwards in broadcasting, working more
and more behind the scenes as a producer and manager in many of the
larger television markets. Helen possessed a quick wit and articulate
speech that took her far, blazing trails in areas that were previously
closed to women.
Eventually Helen arrived in Phoenix, Arizona,
where she was destined to spend much of the rest of her life. During
this time there were positive changes in Helen's life, in addition to
continued career success. Helen became a mother of two children, of whom
she was immensely proud after marrying Steve Carroll.
The oldest (sic) child is Lauren, a student a Duke
University. It is tempting to say that Lauren is following in her
mother's steps as a journalist, but that would be a simplification. Lauren
is charting her own course as a print journalist, often working on
complex investigative stories. She is Managing Editor at The Chronicle,
the daily independent newspaper at Duke. Her work is also seen in
regional and national news outlets.
Jack is a high school
student. His interests lie in the area of music. He is already
experienced in mixing and editing music. He inherits an artistic
curiosity from his mother, sampling new music while still enjoying his
favorites.
In addition to having a career and being a wife and
mother Helen was involved in many community activities in Phoenix. She
was a member of the Junior League, active with the Valley Youth Theatre
and worked with the American Red Cross, earning a Clara Barton Medal.
Eventually Helen returned to Alabama, but for her friends here the few
years she stayed was all too brief. Eventually she returned to Arizona,
which was her adopted home, earlier this year, residing in Scottsdale.
It was there where she became ill and was hospitalized. This illness
claimed her life this evening.
The above was written by Bryan Turner of Huntsville. I've personally known Helen for several years and counted her as a dear friend. At one time she had considered becoming part of our team. It's our loss that we never finalized the matter. The world is much worse for her absence.
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