of Daphne, AL

October 19, 1948 - October 18, 2025

Helen Bedford Anderton passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Saturday, October 18th, just hours shy of her 77th birthday. Helen lived in Little Rock, AR for 40 years and recently moved to Daphne, AL to be closer to her family. She was born in Starkville, MS on October 19, 1948 to Marjorie and Morgan Bedford. She grew up in many cities across the South, including Mobile, Camden, Pine Bluff and Vicksburg, as her father was the mill manager at International Paper Company. Helen attended Mississippi State College for Women where she earned her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in History Education. She went on to teach high school history in both Horn Lake and Vicksburg, MS. While in Vicksburg, she began dating the love of her life, Tom Anderton. They were married there on November 6, 1976. After spending their first married years in Vicksburg, then a short time in Memphis, they moved to Little Rock in September of 1982 where they welcomed their daughter, Ashley, that December.

Helen or ''Weezie'' as she was best known, was a mother, sister and friend to all who knew her. Her love for the Lord showed in all aspects of her life. She served her family and others with all of her heart, whether it was baking sourdough bread or toffee for them, being a nurse after surgery or hosting a perfect party with just the right shade of ivory napkins. She was always the first to volunteer at school or to chaperone trips. She led Ashley and her friends in Girl Scouts, served at church in many areas throughout the years and always had her doors open for sleepovers, fueled with oyster crackers and orange juliuses. She cared endlessly for Ashley as she battled her congenital heart defect, for Tom as he battled cancer and for her mother as she aged. Her selfless heart will never be forgotten. After Tom passed away in 2002, Helen joined the staff at Fellowship Bible Church as a receptionist and wedding coordinator. Her service at Fellowship, as was her whole life, was both her calling and her joy, a reflection of her steadfast faith and love for others.

Helen leaves behind her daughter and son-in-law, Ashley and Bixler Cunningham and her granddaughter, Isabelle all of Daphne; her sister, Gingy Andersen of Fayetteville; her brother, JY Massey (Cheryl) of Mountain Home; her step-sons, Eric Anderton (Leslie) of Fairhope and Craig Anderton (Stephanie) of Mobile; granddaughters, Lizzie, Koestler, Katherine and Hannah; grandson, Tommy; brothers-in-law, Gary Anderton (Cherie) of Vicksburg and Larry Anderton (Dawn) of Greenwood; sister-in-law, Liesel Anderton of Vicksburg; nephews, Trent, Kerry, Mitchell, Andy, Matt, Bill and Cooper and nieces, Betsy, Wesley, Bailey and Katie; along with a host of dear friends who became family.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Marjorie and Morgan; her husband, Tom; her brother-in-law, Bob Anderton; her mother and father-in-law, Louise and Elmer Anderton; her half-sister, Terry Massey and her cousin, Lisa Miller.

A funeral service will be held on Thursday, October 23rd at 11:00 a.m. at Fellowship Bible Church in Little Rock, followed by a burial at Pinecrest Cemetery at 2:00 p.m. A celebration of life will be held at a later date in Alabama. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Arkansas Children's Hospital Heart Institute.

 

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