Shirl Denise Helms

Shirl Denise Helms, passed away peacefully on March 9, 2026 in Fayetteville, North Carolina at the age of 60. She was born on August 10, 1965, in Chadbourn, North Carolina, to the late Edison Lee and Evator Chavis.

Shirl was born in Chadbourn, North Carolina, but if you ask her, she would say “I’m international”. Shirl was raised for most of her childhood in Florida alongside her brothers and sisters, spending time working in the fields picking oranges. She attended Lake Placid High School in Florida. Following graduation, she pursued a career in nursing and earned her Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) license. A short time later, she moved back to NC where she met her previous husband, Jeffrey Mathews, where they were shortly married, and planned to have their daughter, Tyree Mathews. In the years that followed, she met the love of her life, Samuel Helms. The two shared over 30 years of marriage filled with love and devotion.

Shirl was a very fun, outgoing, and energetic woman with a one-of-a-kind personality, who left a long-lasting, unforgettable impression. She knew exactly how to make a crowd laugh. She cherished time spent with her family and friends. She especially enjoyed the outdoors, with fishing being one of her favorite pastimes, and had a special knack for finding random treasures wherever she went. She absolutely adored her daughter, Tyree, and would brag about her any chance she had. She was a deeply loved and devoted wife, and her husband, Samuel, cherished her endlessly—often spoiling her and lovingly cooking for her, a true reflection of the special bond they shared.

She leaves to cherish her memory her devoted husband, Samuel Helms; daughter, Tyree Mathews; brothers, Edison “Shorty” Lee (Betty Jo), Ricky Chavis (Barbra), Johnny Chavis (Bonnie), and Mandelious “Bird” McNeil (Zanita; pretty); sisters, Ronnell Oxendine and Bettie Baldwin; and a host of extended family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Edison Lee and Evator Chavis; and her brothers and sisters, Herman Chavis, Wiliford “Superman” Chavis, Donnie Chavis, Stonie Chavis, Lula Mae Marquez, Judy Ann Chavis, and Angel “Angie” Lee.

The family will receive friends on Sunday, March 29, 2026, from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Galilee Freewill Holiness Church. A funeral service will follow at 3:00 PM, officiated by her cousin, Pastor Ricky Burnett and Pastor Jerry Groves.