Mrs. Helen Joyce Lang McGowan

Helen Joyce Lang McGowan, affectionately known as 'Ham', was born to Ella Lee Bender Lang and Peter Lang on November 15, 1945. She accepted Christ at an early age and joined her family church, Mt. Pleasant MB Church, Pachuta, MS. She attended the East Jasper School District until she moved to New Orleans, LA. In 1963, she married Ira Lee Gardner. Two daughters were born from this union. Helen moved to Chicago, IL in 1974. She worked while also attending Kennedy King Community College, completing her degrees in business and social work. After completing her education, she secured employment with an Interior Design factory in Illinois for 7 years. She returned to Mississippi in 1990 to join her daughters and grandchildren. She always loved old houses, so once she settled back home in the country, she bought herself one. In 1997, finding another worthy companion, she was married to James Douglas McGowan. She applied for a job in social work, but instead received a call from the Federal Government with an offer for a traveling food inspector. She accepted, and she traveled statewide, doing inspections for companies such as Peco Foods, Wayne Farms, Sanderson Farms and Marshall Durbin. She was blessed and thanlful for the job and worked there until she retired in 2004. In her retirement, she loved fishing, planting flowers, gardening, and spending time with her grands, great grands and great great grands whenever they visited. She also worked as a private sitter for Heavenly lnHome Care in Quitman, MS until she became ill. Helen was preceded in death by both husbands, her parents, her two daughters, Alinda Marie Lang Lloyd and Deountyne Gardner Lewis; and two brothers, Kenneth Lang and Sammie McMickle. Memories will forever be cherished by her loving family: one brother, Carey Bender, New Orleans, LA; three sisters, Bertha Henely, New Orleans, LA, Yvonne Fox, Rockford, IL and Helen Basset, St. Paul, MN; a devoted companion, James Sanders, who assisted her during her illness; special cousins, Raymond Williams, Pachuta, MS, Jerry Bender, Chicago, IL, Bernard Bender, Chicago, IL, and Stella Marshall, Pachuta, MS; 12 grandchildren, 28 greatgrandchildren, 7 great-great-grandchildren, and hosts of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends. `

Mrs. Helen Joyce Lang McGowan

November 15, 1945 - March 16, 2023