Helen LaRose (Barnett) Smith was born May 12,1928 in Seattle, Washington. Born into a family of enterprising leaders, her father Powell Barnett was married to Catherine Veile Conna. Powell umpired and played in many semi- pro baseball games and started the Umpires Association in the Northwest. Powell also has a park named after him, The Powell Barnett Park for his many accomplishments located in Seattle on Martin Luther King Way South. Her grandparents John Conna and wife, Mary Conna, early settlers taking up residence on a 157 acre homestead in Federal Way, Washington in the early 1800s. Her grandfather, Mr. Conna became the first Black political appointee in the history of Washington Territory; Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms of the 1889 Washington Territorial House of Representatives. He owned the Conna edition in Tacoma & parts of downtown Fairbanks, Alaska.
Powell and his wife settled in Seattle and Helen was the seventh child in a family of eight children. Growing up in a family of achievers, one need only read the history of Black Washington State pioneers and settlers to appreciate the vast accomplishments of this young family. Educated in the Seattle Public Schools, Helen attended Leschi Elementary, Rainier Middle School, Garfield High School, and Edison Technical School, now Seattle College.
After her parents joined My Zion in 1906, she united with the now historic Mount Zion Baptist Church in the 1930’s where she remained a member until her passing into Perfect Peace. She was a Sunday School teacher, a circle member, Eastern Star and a member until present.
James and Helen met during his United States Navy tour of duty in Seattle during WWII. Smitty as he was called, knew immediately that Helen Barnett was the lady that would become his life-long wife, partner, helpmate, traveling partner, and mother of their children. At the early age of seventeen and nineteen, the two built their first home at 430 28th Avenue. In 1994, Helen and her beloved husband celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, with their children, James Jr., Catherine, Karen, Mary, Valerie, and Jaylen. Friends and family alike enjoyed the gala and festive affair.
Along with traveling the world with Smitty to places such as Africa, Buenos Aires, China, Hong Kong, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Thailand & other counties, Helen enjoyed her family most of all. She was an artist and loved painting. She entertained her family and friends by dancing the Boogie Woogie, and sharing her natural skills as an artist and talents of sewing, creating with wood and carpentry, and African art. She delighted in playing board games, and was an aspiring thespian. She and her brother Doug, during the mid 1950s, started the African Artist business, painting pictures and sculpting masks. Helen was also a business owner until present.
Helen passed into Perfect Peace on Sunday, March 18, 2018. Going first to prepare a place for her was her beloved husband, James T. In the place of many rooms, greeting her as well was Powell Barnett, John Barnett, Carmen Barnett, Gene Barnett, and Kenneth Barnett.
Helen will be missed by many relatives and friends. Missing her most will be her children, James T. Jr. (Margaret) Smith, Katherine (Gene) Moss, Karen (Derrick) Jones, Mary, Valerie (deceased) and Jaylen (Rebecca); her siblings, Douglas Quentin Barnett, Seattle, Washington and Dorothy Turner, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; grandchildren, Jacques Johnson, Jack Barrow III, Shana Smith, JT Smith III (Jimmy), Chavela Johnson, Shannon Anderson, Elijah Powell, Daria Smith, Makilah Hill (Powell), Demetrus Dugar, D’Maine Dugar, Shellyn Dugar, Jazmine Smith, and Danielle Smith; many great grandchildren and lots of other relatives and friends.
Helen’s Epilogue
Who can find a virtuous woman, whose price is far above rubies? Helen, also called Bibi by family, would like you to know that her work here is done.
She received a call; a sort of offer she couldn’t refuse, for an appointment she will not be returning from. This appointment comes with a huge sign-on bonus; a reunion with family & friends she has not seen in a long time. Job security is 110%. Her new mission takes her to a wonderful place where she will be socializing, dancing, laughing and praising the Lord.
She left detailed instructions for her children to celebrate her mission here which is now complete. She leaves a truly rich legacy of always encouraging her children to reach their goals and dreams. Long live the rich legacy of Helen L. Barnett Smith
