Obituary Helen (Bishop-Sayers) Woolrich,
St Louis, Missouri, 2 May 1955
Montgomery Standard, Montgomery County, Missouri, 12 May 1955 Mrs. Helen Woolrich Dies. Mrs. Helen Bishop Woolrich (colored) age 91 years, passed away on May 3rd in St Louis, Missouri. She had spent her entire life near Jonesburg, until the passing of her husband, Rev. Leroy Woolrich, last fall. Her two children had preceded her to the Great Beyond, several years ago; but she leaves six grandchildren to mourn her departure. Funeral Services were held at the Harding Mortuary on Friday afternoon, May 6th, conducted by Rev. Broocks of Foristell, and Rev. Leonard, of Montgomery City. Music was under direction of the Colored Methodist Church of Montgomery City.
Montgomery Standard, Montgomery County, Missouri, 19 May 1955 Mrs. Helen Woolrich Dies In St Louis. Helen Bishop Sayres Woolrich was born January 27, 1864 in Warren County near Jonesburg, Missouri. Her mother and father, Mr. and Mrs. Pittman Bishop, were parents of twelve children of whom Mrs. Woolrich was the last surviving member. Helen Bishop was married on her twentieth birthday to John Sayers. To this union two children were born: Paris Sayers, who died at the age of sixteen years and Estella (Mrs. Lee Jefferson) who died in 1933 leaving six children. Mr. Sayers died in 1941, this leaving Mrs. Sayers a widow until 1947 when she was united in marriage with the Reverend Leroy Woolrich, a retired minister and district superintendent of the Methodist Church, on June 12th of that year. Rev. Woolrich passed away on December 7, 1954. After his death Mrs. Woolrich was moved from Jonesburg to St Louis to Live with her granddaughter and namesake Mary Helen Jefferson, who cared for her grandmother with love and devotion until her death. On April 16th of this year, Mrs. Woolrich fell and broke her hip and spent the last weeks of her life in Homer G. Phillips Hospital in St Louis, where she passed away on May 2, 1955, at the age of 91 years, 3 months and 5 days. Mrs. Woolrich became a member of the St John's Methodist Church early in life, and took an active part in the church work. She and her family were respected citizens of Jonesburg. She was kind and thoughtful of her friends and neighbors. She is survived by six grandchildren: Mary Helen Jefferson, Thomas Russell Jefferson, Charles Curtiss Jefferson, Mildred Jefferson Greene, all of St Louis; Rose Marie Jefferson Gibbs, of Detroit, Michigan; and Sylvester Jefferson, of Columbia; also four great-grandchildren; a number of nieces and nephews, as well as many friends, who will remember her with love and respect.