Nolan Davis Helms Sr., 86, died at his home on Friday, March 26, 2004.
He was a prominent community leader, churchman and textile manufacturer.
He was the oldest of nine children of Nolan and Bettie Davies Helms. He was born on Oct. 31, 1917, on his grandparents’ farm in Honoraville, Ala. In 1922 his parents purchased a dairy farm in Snowdon, Ala., where he grew up. He was a graduate of Sidney Lanier High School in Montgomery, Ala., and received a BS degree in textile engineering from Auburn University, where he belonged to Phi Psi engineering fraternity. He became associated with Callaway Mills in LaGrange, Ga., where he became assistant Southeast sales manager. While working with Callaway Mills, he entered the military. Although he was blind in one eye, he pressured the Army to take him. He graduated from OCS and served his country in Iwo Jima, being attached to the medical administrative corps with the U.S. Air Force during World War II. He was discharged in 1946 after earning the rank of captain. He returned to Callaway Mills after his military duty and was based in Atlanta. He owned Croft Carpet Mills, and later purchased Heritage Carpet Mills, which was sold to Coronet Industries. He then founded Hartford Carpet Mills and retired from there in 1989. A leader in the carpet industry he was the featured cover story in the September 1960 issue of Modern Textile Magazine titled "Magic Carpets" and was identified in the article as a "friendly, intelligent and always customer-oriented individual."
He had been a resident of Chattanooga for more than 50 years. He was a former member of Brainerd Presbyterian Church, where be served as a deacon and was a past board member of the American Heart Association. He currently was a member of First Presbyterian Church and the Lee Anderson Sunday School Class, a member of the Chattanooga Rotary Club, the Mountain City Club and the Chattanooga Golf and Country Club, where he was a former member of the board.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three sisters, Alice Butler, Lee McNeese and Jane Marie Garner; and one brother, Frank Helms.
He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Catherine Cobb Helms of Chattanooga; four sons, Nolan Davis Helms Jr. of Signal Mountain, Donald Frank Helms of Chattanooga, Dr. Robert Cobb Helms of Raleigh, N.C., and Rev. Guy Allen Helms of Ball Ground, Ga.; eight grandchildren, Nolan Davis Helms III, Douglas Carden Helms, Eleanor Helms, Laurel Helms, Allison Helms, Robert Davis Helms, Gina Helms and Sarah Helms; two sisters, Emma Russell Green, Troy, Ala., Betty Lane Ivey, Naples, Fla.; two brothers, John Helms, Atlanta, and Joe Helms, Montgomery, Ala.; and several nieces and nephews.
A private family graveside service will be at Chattanooga National Cemetery.
A celebration of life memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Monday at First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Rankin Wilbourne and Lee Anderson officiating.
The family will receive friends following the service in the connector at First Presbyterian Church.
Memorial contributions may be made to the First Presbyterian Church Mission Fund, 544 McCallie Ave., Chattanooga, TN 37402; Hospice of Chattanooga, 165 Hamm Road, Chattanooga, TN 37405; or Siskin Children’s Institute, 1101 Carter St., Chattanooga, TN 37406.
Arrangements are by the East Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, 404 S. Moore Road.