Maples, HelenHelen Virginia Bunkley Maples, born December 25, 1949, and a resident of Montgomery, passed away on February 28, 2017, following a brief but valiant fight with lymphoma. She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph Windham Bunkley, Sr. and Martha Wells Bunkley. She is survived by her four children, Martha Maples Gardner (Joseph), Alice Maples Henley (Christopher), Gregory Joseph Maples (Adrienne), and Suzanne Maples Molina (Fausto); six grandchildren, Jefferson Gardner, Virginia Henley, Rush Maples, Ann Marelle Maples, Lane Maples, and Sergio Molina; one brother, Jospeh Windham Bunkley, Jr.; two aunts, Helen Wells Hunt and L.P. Wells; and a host of extended family members and dear friends and neighbors. Helen was born on Christmas day 1949, in Opelika, Alabama, and graduated from Opelika High School. Helen earned both Bachelor's and Master's degrees from the University of Alabama, where she was a member of Delta Gamma Fraternity. After staying home with children for a number of years, Helen resumed her special education teaching career in 1984, first at Marbury High School, and then for 27 years at Prattville Elementary School. An eternal optimist, Helen persevered as a single mother. She was a Girl Scout leader, a children's choir director, a PTA officer, a prison ministry volunteer, a women's Bible study participant, and an accomplished seamstress. Her greatest joys were her children and grandchildren. A visitation will be held on Saturday, March 4, 2017 from 5:00-7:00PM at Leak Memory Chapel. Helen's Celebration of Life Service will be held on Sunday, March 5, 2017, at 1:00PM at her church, Whitfield Memorial United Methodist Church, with burial to follow at Greenwood Cemetery. Pallbearers will be her son and sons-in-law, her grandson, Jeff Gardner, and her devoted neighbor, Barry Lewis. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Helen's memory to The Arc of Alabama or a . The family expresses its gratitude to the staff at Baptist Medical Center East for the care and compassion shown to Helen in her final days.