Helen Hatchell Freeman Williams

Helen Hatchell Freeman Williams, 94, died peacefully at home on July 16, 2025, leaving behind a legacy of love for her family and friends. Born in Kirbyville, TX on November 5, 1930, to Nina DuBose Hatchell and Wilson W. Hatchell, she became a lifelong resident of Beaumont.

Growing up on Beaumont’s Avenue C, Helen graduated from Beaumont High School and went on, after raising her children, to graduate from Lamar University with a Master of Arts Degree. Following graduation from Lamar, Helen began teaching at Forest Park High School, which later became West Brook High School. Helen served as Head of the English Department, teaching regular and Honors Senior English courses. Countless former students have commented through the years that while Mrs. Freeman’s class was extremely tough, they grew to recognize the class and her teaching method, more so than other classes, made them better prepared for college and beyond. Helen took great pride in being even a small part in the success of hundreds of students through the years.

After her retirement from teaching in 1991, Helen volunteered many hours at the McFadden-Ward home, the Tyrrell Historical Library, and St. Elizabeth Hospital. She was active in church, school, community, and professional activities. She was a lifelong advocate for education. She served as a Sunday school teacher, a school tutor, and a member of bible study groups, altar guilds, book clubs, and duplicate bridge clubs.

Helen had many loves. She loved her family and friends. She loved reading, teaching, traveling, researching family genealogies, gardening, and playing duplicate bridge. Her pride and joy, however, were her children, their spouses, grandchildren, and her great-grandchildren. Helen took much pride in each of their accomplishments and devoted herself to rearing them with unconditional love. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, teacher, and friend. Helen counted her family as her greatest blessing. Her family will remember her as a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and as an encourager, and a nurturer.

Helen is preceded in death by her parents, Nina and Wilson Hatchell; her sisters:  Ima Hatchell Shelton and Gene Hatchell Reed; her brother, Charles M. Hatchell; and her husbands: Walter H. Freeman and Rupert (Rudy) C. Williams.

Helen is survived by her four children:  David E. Bernsen and his wife, Dinah Bernsen of Beaumont; Mary Freeman Kennedy and her husband, Scott Kennedy of Long Beach, CA; Cyndi Freeman Boren and her husband, Dr. Charles E. Boren of Houston; and John M. Freeman of Houston.  She is also survived by her eleven grandchildren:  Cade Bernsen and his wife, Meredith Bernsen of Beaumont; Taylor Bernsen of Beaumont; Jeff Kennedy and his wife, Sara Kennedy of San Clemente, CA; Katelyn Kennedy Greenwood and her husband, Scott Greenwood of San Francisco, CA; Carly Kennedy Coleman and her husband, Tanner Coleman of Carlsbad, CA, Dr. Chad Boren and his wife, Dr. Morgan Boren of Houston; Wilson Boren and his wife, Natalie Boren of Houston; Brett Boren and his wife, Tricia Boren of Houston; Paige Boren Bilhartz and her husband, Nate Bilhartz of Austin, Haley Freeman Roff and her husband, Thomas Roff of Houston; and Nate Freeman of Boulder, CO.

Helen is also survived by nineteen great-grandchildren:  Channing, Chappell, and Hutton Bernsen of Beaumont; Hatchell, Monroe and Wyatt McSpadden of Beaumont; June and Raglan Kennedy of San Clemente, CA; Charlotte and Elsie Greenwood of San Francisco, CA; Preston Boren of Houston; Eleanor and Baker Boren of Houston; John Walter Boren of Houston; Wesley and Olivia Bilhartz of Austin; and Marshall, Grace, and Clara Roff of Houston. As Helen completes her journey, the family looks forward to two additional great-grandchildren who are due to arrive by the end of the year.

Survivors also include Rudy’s children:  Susan Simmons and her husband, Dr. James M. Simmons of Beaumont; Reed Williams and his wife, Martha Williams of Boulder, CO; Richard Williams and his wife, Jane Williams of Conroe; and Rudy’s five grandchildren, and his sixteen great-grandchildren.

Helen is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

A gathering of Helen’s family and friends will be on Wednesday, July 23 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., at Broussard’s Mortuary, 2000 McFaddin Avenue, Beaumont. A Celebration of Life is scheduled for Thursday, July 24, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Calder Baptist Church, 1005 N 11^th Street, Beaumont, with Dr. Jim Fuller officiating. A graveside service will be held later in the day at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Beaumont.

Pallbearers include Helen’s grandsons:  Cade Bernsen, Jeff Kennedy, Chad Boren, Wilson Boren, Brett Boren, Nate Freeman, as well as Helen’s eldest great-grandson Hatchell McSpadden. Honorary pallbearers include Helen’s additional Beaumont great-grandsons:  Monroe McSpadden, Wyatt McSpadden, and Hutton Bernsen.

The family would like to thank longtime loving care and assistance provider Minga Parra, as well as loving care providers:  Maggie Sattler, Kenia LeDoux, Albina Leiva, Helen Harrison, and Linda Patterson

Memorial contributions for Helen may be made to Julie Rogers Gift of Life, 2390 Dowlen Road, Beaumont, TX 77706, online giving, or to the charity of one’s choice.

       “.. . grieve not, nor speak of me with tears,

                but laugh and talk of me as if I were beside you. . .

             I loved you so-‘Twas Heaven here with you.’”

                                                                        Isla Richardson