Extracted from The Tuscaloosa News (Tuscaloosa, AL)
Martha Lavinia (Vinny) Hellums
TUSCALOOSA -- Martha Lavinia (Vinny) Hellums, 56, died January 10, 2003 in
Tuscaloosa. Burial in Tuscaloosa Memorial Park.
She is preceded in death by her mother, Jean Logan Hellums.
Survivors include her brother, Clarence T. Hellums, Jr. (Sylvia) of
Tuscaloosa; parents C.T. Hellums, Sr. of Tuscaloosa; a loving niece and
nephew, Heidi Hellums Reid (Chip) of Southlake, Texas and Christopher Theo
Hellums (Rachael) of Birmingham, Ala.
Vinny, as she was affectionately known, graduated from Tuscaloosa High School
in the Class of 1964. She later received her Bachelor of Science in early
Childhood Education from the University of Alabama. Vinny began teaching
preschoolers at Kindercare and later taught in the Tuscaloosa City School
System for 22 years, first at Central Elementary and then at Skyland
Elementary, where her mother Jean Hellums was part of the initial staff and
both retired at Skyland Elementary.
Vinney devoted her life to her students and loved teaching. She was a
wonderful storyteller and delighted in the success of her students. She died
peacefully at home in her sleep.
Family requests that donations be made to the Scholarship fund of Delta Kappa
Gamma or Skyland Elementary School Library.
January 2003