Late senator’s kindness remains a fond memory
We received news of the passing of Sen. Jesse Helms July 4. The comments on his life will be many and varied. I feel strongly moved to tell our story.
On Saturday evening, Jan. 21, 1978, Helms spoke at a rally in the Elon College gymnasium. During the evening, he heard that our father, Henry Danieley, was in Memorial Hospital and seriously ill. He sent a messenger to ask me if he might visit our father. I agreed and went to the hospital to prepare Daddy for the visit, which came at about 10 p.m. Needless to say, Daddy was highly pleased to see Sen. and Mrs. Helms.
Our father died later that week. A few nights after that, when the word had reached Helms, he called me at home to talk about Daddy and to express his sympathy to me and our family.
Quite a number of months later, our mother passed away. Word reached the senator and, again, he called to express his condolences.
I shall never forget the kindness and consideration shown to us by this good friend. His respect for our parents and his concern for our family were the marks of a thoughtful and good man.
Earl Danieley
Elon
Comments (4)
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Did you're family have a prior relationship with Senator Helms, Earl?
Maybe I should be less cynical; perhaps Helms was related to Jesus .. which is possible since apparently Mary had more than one child.
Posted on July 10, 2008 6:40 AM
I just wish Helms showed the same consideration and compassion to people with whom he did not share the same skin color or religious faith. I am reminded of the recent obituary of Sen. Helms by Christopher Hitchens, which stated: "The way to mark Helms' passing is to recognize that he prolonged the life of the old segregated South and the Dixiecrat ascendancy and that in his own person, not unlike Strom Thurmond, he personified much of its absurdity and redundancy."
Posted on July 10, 2008 10:34 AM
I just wish Helms showed the same consideration and compassion to people with whom he did not share the same skin color or religious faith. I am reminded of the recent obituary of Sen. Helms by Christopher Hitchens, which stated: "The way to mark Helms' passing is to recognize that he prolonged the life of the old segregated South and the Dixiecrat ascendancy and that in his own person, not unlike Strom Thurmond, he personified much of its absurdity and redundancy."
Posted on July 10, 2008 10:36 AM
"Maybe I should be less cynical; perhaps Helms was related to Jesus .. which is possible since apparently Mary had more than one child."
I haven't heard that but I did hear he tried to tempt Jesus 3 times.
Posted on July 11, 2008 10:32 AM