Helen Lillie-Bell Shaw Williamson-Edwards, beloved daughter of Walter and Lena Shaw, was born in Alamance County, North Carolina on August 24, 1927. She was the seventh of ten siblings.

Her elementary and secondary education was received in the Burlington, North Carolina School System.

From a very early age, Helen was nurtured in the Word of God. As a youth, she began her Christian walk with the Lord in North Carolina. After moving to Mt. Vernon, New York with her family, she united with the Macedonia Baptist Church where she was a faithful member of the choir. In later years, she activated the principles of the church covenant and united with the Beulah Missionary Baptist Church of Albany, where she sang in the Senior Choir. Helen gave ear to the "Macedonia call of Paul" and later united with the Blue Springs Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of her son, Reverend Frank Williamson. She was a molder, a shaper, a teacher, and a builder of young women and mothers. She stayed on the battlefield until her demise.

Helen was united in holy matrimony to Littleton Williamson who preceded her in death. With this union, they became the loving parents of four children. In 1990, she married Albert Edwards—a union that spanned a period of 28 years.

Throughout life, Helen had a genuine love of life and a servant's heart. She was a person who felt most content when helping others, as exhibited in her role as a caretaker while residing in Mt. Vernon, NY. She was a selfless person who saw the beauty in all things, accepted everyone for who they were, and openly welcomed them into her heart and home. She will be missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing her and calling her friend.

On Sunday, March 11, 2018, Helen answered the Master's call to come Home while surrounded by her family. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her siblings, Thelma Alston, Catherlene Thompson, Mary Gibbs, Walter Shaw, Ed Shaw, and John Shaw.

Loving memories will forever be cherished by her children, Reverend Frank (Mary) Williamson, Theresa Williamson, and adopted daughter Johnnie Mae Gibbs; grandchildren, Angela (Eric) Bland, Lamont (Shaunda) Killian, Jr., Coretha Williamson, Christopher Killian, Maquinta Killiam, Alonzo Maddox, and A'mon Gordon; great grandchildren, Lamont Killian, III, Myasia Killian, Amaia Killian, Enari Lawson, Zamya Lawson, Angela Lawson, Kayla Killian, Braelynn Lawson and Christopher Killian, Jr.; great-great granddaughter, Kayden Killian; siblings, Charles (Bessie) Shaw, Rosa Edwards, and Naomi Coleman; sister-in-law, Gladys Shaw; son-in-law, Robert Baynes; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.