Mrs. Mary Helen (Holland) Mathis, 96, of Waynesboro, MS passed from this life Sunday, November 17, 2024, at The Blake at Flowood in Flowood, MS. She was born in Wayne County, MS on Saturday, December 17, 1927, to the late Roy W. Holland and Clara B. (Elliot) Holland West. She graduated from Davis Elementary School, Beat Four High School, and Jones County Junior College. She became an elementary school teacher, then a bank employee and for 21 years, she owned and directed Mathis Tax and Bookkeeping Service in Yazoo City, MS. Her most rewarding "job" was being wife and mother, watching her husband and children use their God-given talents. While teaching at Pleasant Grove Elementary, she met and married the love of her life, W. A. "Lonnie" Mathis. They celebrated 51 years of marriage. Since Lonnie was a construction engineer, they moved a lot. Their three children were born in different states: Mississippi, Missouri, and Oklahoma. Wherever they lived, they attended a nearby church. In Yazoo City, they were members of Southside Baptist Church where both were Sunday School teachers. After moving back to Wayne County, Helen attended Christian Fellowship Church. Since April 2019, she lived at The Blake, an Assisted Living Facility in Flowood, MS where she met many other residents of The Blake who became her Christian friends. Mrs. Mathis is preceded in death by her husband, W. A. "Lonnie" Mathis; parents, Roy W. Holland and Clara B. (Elliot) Holland West; son, Joe Mathis; stepfather, R. L. "Bob" West; brother, Willie A. "Bill" Holland; Sister-In-Law, Maureen Holland; nephew, Glenn Holland; sister, Barbara Langley; Brother-In-Law, Junior Langley; great granddaughter, Madeline Johns. She is survived by her daughter, Margaret Webb (Jim) of Jackson, MS; son, Marvin Mathis (LuEllen) of Waynesboro, MS; five granddaughters, Carley Laney (Chris), Leslie Cunningham (Kyle), Sarah Johns (Ben), Martha Comfort (Norman), and Patti Hendrick (Scott); 10 great grandchildren; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She was a member of the order of the Eastern Star and served faithfully for many years until health problems made travel too difficult. Helen often said that God's mercy and the love and kindness of her family made her long life possible. Visitation for Mrs. Mathis will be held from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM, Saturday, November 23, 2024, at Freeman Funeral Home, 1305 Skyland Drive, Waynesboro, MS. Funeral Services will be held at 1:00 PM Saturday, November 23, 2024, at Freeman Funeral Home in Waynesboro, MS with Dr. Steve Smith officiating. Interment will be in Christian Fellowship Cemetery in Waynesboro, MS.