Helen Marie Brantley was born in Little Rock Arkansas on March 03, 1939 to the proud parents of Alice Catherine Hill and Jim Vaughn.  Helen left Arkansas at an early age and relocated with her beloved grandmother, Lucy; her mother, and a host of uncles and aunts to reside in Oakland, California, where she attended Oakland Public Schools.​ Helen met and married Benjamin C. Brantley and two sons were born through this union Joseph Leroy and Benjamin Charles, Jr.

Helen enjoyed dancing and the party didn’t start until she arrived. She was never the wallflower and if the truth be known she invented the TWERK. Helen was always that glimmer of light so much that everyone wanted to be in her presence. She loved having people around her, having fun and loved to cook. She was known for her finger licking good BBQ sauce and went to great length to protect her secret recipe. ​Helen was passionate about professional wrestling and soap operas. When some of her favorite soap operas were discontinued, Helen wrote the network to express her disappointment.​

Helen gave love unconditionally and accepted everyone. She was kind and welcoming. She would give countless hours of her time to anyone in need. ​Auntie Helen played a pivotal part in all of our lives, especially Jay and Bree. They adored her and loved her as much as she loved them​. ​Helen ask God to let her live to see Jay and Bree graduate from High school. God granted her that wish, as well as letting her live to see them into adulthood. She always referred to Margaret as the daughter she always wanted but never had and the sister that Leroy and Benjamin never had.​ Helen, Dorothy Adams, Annie Thomas and Diane Williams (deceased) had a Friendship/sisterhood that never wavered and was unconditional for a lifetime.​ ​The Wysinger/Williams Family​ always included Helen, Leroy and Ben and referred to them as family.

As her illness progressed Helen never forgot to say “I LOVE YOU.“​ On March 11, 2020 she passed away with a smile. 

Helen Marie Brantley’s two sons, Joseph and Benjamin are waiting at the pearly gates and receiving her with open arms.​ Other family members who preceded her in death are Lucy (beloved grandmother) and Alice Catherine Hill (beloved mother)​,  Nancy Hinton, Annie Mae Shells, Jerry Allan Burial, Elsie Simmons, Charles, Donald, George Walter Wilkins Sr., Auther, and Auther Lee Jr. Wilkins​

Helen is survived by​ Margaret, JaJuan (Jay), and Bree Wysinger for always being there for the good and difficult times; Cecilia Walker (sister); Michael Hill (brother); and a host of cousins and friends.​

SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

from Margaret Wysinger

Patricia Leonard and Evon Campbell ​

You were my Rock you allowed me to lean on you when I didn’t feel as if I could stand on my own​.  You were there to offer words of encouragement through difficult times​.

Evon, thank you again for your computer skills and Patricia for your organizational​

skills.​

​

Robert & Dorthy Epps. I truly want to thank you both for your kindness.​

Donnie, Leon, and Scooter for all of the visits over the years.​

Dorothy Adams, and Family 

​Annie Thomas, and Family