Helen Barrow
Passed 02/20/2023
She was born to the late Ray Cornelius Cabaniss and Margaret Rogers Cabaniss; delivered by a doctor in their home on July 8, 1936 in Shelby, NC. Starting school at the age of 5 she graduated at the age of 16 from Cleveland School. Helen's desire was to be a Missionary and a Social Worker. At 16 she was recognized as the first Black Debutante, sponsored by the Shelby Negro Woman's Club. Her educational journey started at North Carolina Central University in Durham. This journey lead her to completing a Business degree through her studies at Johnson and Wells in Providence, Rhode Island and Charlotte, NC.
Upon returning to Shelby she helped her father and Uncle as their bookkeeper at the first black owned gas station in Shelby, NC. It was while working there she met her future husband, Franklin D. Barrow, Sr. (now deceased). As the faithful, loyal and committed wife of a career military man, she experienced the adventures, the employment opportunities as a Postal Worker and banking and teaching in Washington, DC and California respectively, her travels to a number of states and overseas, and along with these, she patiently accepted the separations and challenges that came with the life of a military wife.
Upon her husband's retirement from the United States Air Force, they settled in their beloved hometown of Shelby. There she became actively involved with her home church Roberts Tabernacle CME Church as a Missionary, a devoted member and Treasurer. Also at this time she accepted a position at First National Bank of Shelby as one of their first Black American bank tellers. It was for the next 27 years that she would serve not only as bank teller but as an advocate, mediator, and encourager; looking out for the welfare of all who came to her window, during work hours and after hours. She retired from First National Bank as their first Black American Bank teller. It is told that she paved the way and example for many to follow there.
Her life of missions and community involvement extended beyond the bank to the Nursing homes, individual homes, as a Volunteer Hospice worker, a Habitat for Humanity Volunteer and Board member and member of the Shelby City Zoning Board. Her life's accomplishments were recognized in 2011 by the Cleveland Co. Commission for Women as their 2011 Distinguished Woman Award recipient and the 2012 Woman of the Year recipient by the Shelby Negro Woman's Club. Helen loved to travel, reading books with the members of her book club and celebrating the achievements of young women in the county as a member of the Audacian Club.
However one may have known her, whether it was, Helen, Mama, MeMaw, Ms Barrow, Ms Helen, and Aunt Helen or fondly referred to by her father as “Puddin”; you experienced and respected her quiet, gentle strength, that radiant smile and that special place one would feel she held in her heart for them. She was the oldest of 5 children and was looked up to as the strength and matriarch of the family by her siblings, children and grandchildren. Helen Cabaniss Barrow leaves to cherish her memories, her daughter, Tanzy Barrow Wallace (Stephen), son Franklin Delano Barrow, Jr. (Michelle) her sister, Doris Ann Cabaniss Shipman (Raymond, deceased); her brothers, Rayfield William Cabaniss who preceded her in death (Rebecca), Warren Cornelius Cabaniss (Joan, deceased), Peter Marshall Cabaniss (C'Andrea), Six grandchildren, Nikao Leon Wallace, Stuart Franklin Wallace, Azariah Franklin Barrow (Kaley), Emmanuel Stephen Wallace, Moriah Barrow Aktas (Meric), Simeon Reese Wallace and a special Goddaughter, Rev. Dr. Starr Wright (Eric), her lifelong friends, Rose Borders, Ann Patterson and Yvonne Beam (deceased) along with her nieces, nephews and cousins she dearly cherished.
Visitation of Friends will be on Thursday, March 2, 2023 at Enloe Mortuary, 231 N. Lafayette St. Shelby, NC. 28150 from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at Roberts Tabernacle CME Church, 414 E. Marion St. Shelby, NC 28150 at 12:00 Noon on Friday, March 3, 2023. The service will be livestreamed starting at 11:45 AM from Enloe Mortuary Facebook page. Interment will immediately follow at Cleveland Memorial Park in Boiling Springs, NC. The family will also receive friends and visitors on Tuesday, February 28th and Wednesday, March 1st from 2-6:30 pm at 500 Suttle St. Shelby, NC 28150. Please send all correspondences to: 500 Suttle St. Shelby, NC 28150. All flowers and plants are to be forwarded/sent to: Enloe 28150.Mortuary, 231 N. Lafayette St. Shelby, NC