Mrs. Jane Calvert Hopkins Helms

A memorial service for Jane Calvert Hopkins Helms, who passed away on February 11th at the age of 90, will be held at noon on Saturday, February 15th at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Columbia, following a private burial at the Hopkins family cemetery. A reception will be held at Trinity following the service. Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, is assisting the family. Known as Calvert, she was born in Columbia to Jane Calvert McDowell Hopkins and Theodore Jervey Hopkins, MD of Columbia. She was predeceased by an infant brother, a former husband, Bennett Lyon Helms, and a longtime companion, Charles Blalock Smith. She grew up in Columbia, attending Schneider Elementary and Hand Jr. High School in Shandon, graduating high school at Stuart Hall in Staunton, VA. She returned to SC and graduated from the University of South Carolina, where she was a member of the Delta Delta Delta sorority. After marrying, she raised her family and lived for many decades in Spartanburg, SC, where she was a member of the Episcopal Church of the Advent. She was an active member of the Junior League and the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America, among other community organizations. Later in life she returned to Columbia and spent many happy years reconnecting with old friends and her extensive family. She rejoined Trinity Cathedral where she was a member of the Altar Guild and developed a devoted following for her pickles and hot catsup at the Church Bazaar. Calvert’s qualities were many. Her generosity of spirit, her loyalty, her fairness and objectivity won her many close friends. She was a voracious reader and a lover of the arts, especially music. She was an extrovert who loved people, entertaining and traveling the world and she never failed to make friends wherever she went. With an impish smile and a slightly raised eyebrow, she charmed many, including Prosecco makers in the Veneto, sorority sisters sixty years younger than herself at Cafe Strudel and her physical therapist, who was known to stop by for the occasional glass of wine and a chat, long after their professional relationship had ended. She was widely traveled and would not pass up the opportunity for a bit of an adventure, but also cherished the countryside of Lower Richland County, especially The Oldfield and her son’s nearby home at Carolina Bay Farms. She is survived by her brother Ted Hopkins (Katherine May) of Columbia, daughter Calvert Helms (Tom Pene) of Montone, Italy and son James Helms (Sharon Ray) of Hopkins, SC. She is also survived by her grandchildren Megan Wellborn (Austin), Hunter Helms, Nikki Collins (Will), Robert Wright (Kelli) and eight great-grandchildren. The family would like to thank the nursing staff and hospice team of Still Hopes Episcopal Retirement Community for their care and compassion, as well as her devoted friend Adriana Dunbar, who brought so much joy to her later years. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the following organizations or the charity of one’s Choice, Trinity Housing Corporation c/o Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, 1100 Sumter St., Columbia SC 29201; St. John’s Episcopal Church, Congaree, 1151 Elm Savannah Rd., Hopkins SC 29061; or to Richland Library Friends and Foundation at the following addresses: Online at richlandlibrary.com/give. Please put Wheatley Branch in the comments. Checks may be mailed to: Richland Library Friends and Foundation, 1431 Assembly St., Columbia, SC 29201; Please note that the contribution is for the Wheatley Branch.

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Mrs. Jane Calvert Hopkins Helms

December 2, 1934 - February 11, 2025