Bakersville - Helen McBee passed away on Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2005, at the Western North Carolina Baptist Retirement Home, where she had been a resident since 2000.

She was born on Jan. 10, 1909, in Los Angeles, to John C. and Margaret C. McBee. She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Paul Thomas McBee; brother, John C. McBee Jr.; and nephew, John C. McBee III.

She is survived by her sisters-in-law, Mary Slagle McBee of Greensboro and Ivy Sandy McBee of Marion; five nieces, Virginia McBee Cross and her husband, Gene, of Marion, Carolyn McBee Morphy of Bakersville, Marie McBee Geouge of Clover, S.C., Helen McBee Shimp of Lilburn, Ga. and Martha McBee Summerour and her husband, Richard, of Springfield, Va.; great-nieces, Rebecca Summerour, Lynn Cross and Elizabeth Morphy; great-nephews, Eugene Cross IV, Paul Thomas Cross, Mark Geouge and Bryan Geouge; cousins, Shirley Taylor and her husband, Cliff, of Asheville, Frank Young of Oteen , Polly Hudson and her husband, Carlton, of Rhode Island, Marjorie Pittman and her husband, Clifford, of Spruce Pine, Faye McBee of Charlotte, Pearl McBee of Charlotte; and special cousin and companion, Ann Quackenbush of Asheville.

Helen McBee graduated from Bowman High School in Bakersville and attended UNC-G (then the North Carolina College for Women). She graduated in 1929 with a degree in English and significant studied in Spanish. Upon graduation she returned to her beloved Mitchell County and began her teaching career at Bowman High School. She taught Spanish, English and was the director of all of the drama productions at the school for the following forty-plus years that she taught. She took great pride in her students and their abilities. She especially enjoyed her drama productions.

Helen was an avid reader and most adventurous traveler. Upon returning from her many journeys, she spent many hours designing a personal travelogue for each trip. She collected all sorts of memorabilia from her journeys and was very proud of her scrapbook recollections.

Helen belonged to Bakersville Baptist Church, where she taught Sunday School, Bible School, and played the piano and organ for many years. She also was a member of the Women's Missionary Union. Her other organizational memberships included the Mitchell County Chapter of the North Carolina Retired School Personnel, Delta Kappa Gamma, National Education Association, North Carolina Association of Educators and in 1998 she was honored by the Western North Carolina Foundation for her philanthropic activities. She set up a perpetual trust for the Bakersville Community Medical Center, the Mitchell County Library and through her generous gifts to the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, a number of students have been enabled to receive a college education.

Helen McBee, born in the City of Angels, indeed became Mitchell County's angel. He first love was her family, then came her students, and then the people of her hometown. She will be remembered by many and missed by all. She truly was "The Gem of Mitchell County."

Visitation will be held at 7 p.m. Friday at the Bakersville Baptist Church. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the church. Burial will follow at Bakersville Memorial Cemetery. Officiating ministers will be Frank Marks and Billy Stewart.

Memorial gifts can be made to the Mitchell County Library, in care of Linda Gouge, P.O. Box 26, Bakersville, NC 29705 or the Bakersville Community Medical Clinic, in care of Reid Duncan, P.O. Box 27, Bakersville, NC 28705. Flowers are also appreciated.

Arrangements are under the direction of Henline-Hughes Funeral Home.