Burton John Helms

John Burton Helms August 9,1966- January 27, 2021 John Burton Helms, 54, of Wilson passed away Wednesday, January 27, 2021. There will be a service honoring him Saturday, January 30th, 2021 at 2:00 pm at Raleigh Road Baptist Church, 4150 Raleigh Road Pkwy, W Wilson, where John and his wife attended and were actively involved for the last few years. The service will be live-streamed on Facebook as well. Pastor Tyler Campbell will officiate. Due to COVID restrictions, the family sadly will not be able to receive well-wishers following the service. He was born in Winston-Salem, attended Summit School and then went to McCallie School in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He earned his BA at St. Andrews Presbyterian College in Laurinburg. John held positions with Wachovia Bank and MetLife before joining Southern National Bank in 1992. He has stayed with the bank as it became BB&T and now Truist. He loved working there and loved so many of his wonderful coworkers whom he truly considered friends. John was an active citizen in the Wilson Community. He has been active with Playhouse of Wilson serving on the board, building the sets for the plays, and even performing in some plays for many years. John also served on the Arts Council of Wilson’s board of directors. He spent countless hours at the Edna Boykin Theater working behind the scenes as well as in the infamous Leder Building constructing. Away from the theater, John loved baseball. Whether coaching little league, watching his children play- particularly his youngest who played all the way into college, or attending nearly every Wilson Tobs baseball game for the last fifteen plus years. He and his wife have hosted Tobs baseball players since 2008; hosting twenty-eight players, an intern, and a broadcaster in that time! John could be found in the beer garden at the Host Family picnic table that he built himself behind first base with adequate positioning to truly heckle the umpires and easy access to friends and beer! No matter the accomplishment or accolade he may have received from any of these things, that of which he was most proud was his children and new grandbaby. They were his crowning achievement and greatest joy. John is survived by his wife of thirty years, Beth Powell Helms of the home. He is also survived by his three children, son, Carter Van Liere Helms and wife, Ashley Helms, of Zebulon; daughter, Catherine (Cassie) Elizabeth Nixon and husband, Evan Nixon, of Andrews; son, Thomas Powell Helms and fiancée, Dena Bishop, of Cullowhee; granddaughter, Millie Harper Nixon; brother, William Bradley Helms and wife, Kara Helms, of Winston Salem; niece, Madeline Helms and nephew, Hudson Helms as well as uncles, aunts and many wonderful cousins. He was preceded in death by both of his parents, Thomas Hudson Helms and Vicki Van Liere Helms; his aunt, Marcille Van Liere Deane and his uncle, James Helms. Condolences directed to Joyner’s Funeral Home and Crematory at www.joyners.net.