David M. Helms was born in Columbus, GA on June 22, 1940, and passed away at his home on Sunday, July 12, 2026.

A Celebration of Life will be held 6:00 PM Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at Bethesda Baptist Church, 3830 GA HWY 85, Ellerslie, Georgia. The family will receive friends one hour before the services and following the services at the church. A private burial was held at Ellerslie Cemetery.

He graduated from Columbus High School and Auburn University, playing on the golf teams for both schools. David was an officer in the Georgia National Guard. He later joined his family’s business of operating Piggly Wiggly grocery stores and Southland Grocery Co. He was a deacon and actively involved in many ministries of Eastern Heights Baptist Church and Morningside Baptist Churches.

In 1990, David surrendered to a call from God to enter fulltime Christian service, and in 1992 he graduated from New Orleans Theological Seminary, where he received a Master of Divinity. From 1991-2022 he was the pastor of Bethesda Baptist Church in Ellerslie, Georgia. He was always humbled by God’s favor of sending him to such a wonderful, encouraging fellowship of believers. His prayer was that he would be found faithful and

obedient to God’s call upon his life. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest and Allene Storey Helms and his brother, Larry. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Vicki Neal

Helms, a son, John (Shana), a daughter, Barbara, and three grandchildren, Carley Mac, John David, and Hazel Marie Helms, three nephews and a niece.

In honor of David, do something kind for someone in need, or contribute to Mercy Med, Valley Rescue Mission, or Bethesda Food Bank.