Carl W. Helms

Carl WIlliam Helms was born on November 8, 1921 to Luther Lee and Savannah Elvina

Helms in Payton, Oklahoma. Luther worked as a gardener and Savannah served her family as a

homemaker. Carl was the youngest of eleven (11) children, two of which passed away before he

was born. Carl Helms was a talented athlete, and at the age of sixteen (16) years old he was an

All-State Champion baseball pitcher.

Carl Helms met the love of his life, Mamie Marie Allen, and were married on December

14, 1940. For their honeymoon, they packed up their belongings, and moved to California

hoping for a better life and more employment opportunities, settling in Kingsburg, CA.

In 1943, Carl and Marie Helms’ life changed with the birth of their first child, Janette.

Their family continued to grow with the birth of Karen in 1945, Peggy in 1950, and their

youngest child, Carlette, in 1954.

Life changed even more profoundly in the middle of the 1950’s when Carl and Marie

Helms were invited by their neighbors to a revival service at First Pentecostal Church in Visalia,

CA. Carl and Marie Helms were soon baptized in Jesus Name and received the Holy Ghost.

They began attending church in Kingsburg, CA with Pastor James “Artie” Barnett.

Carl Helms felt the call to the ministry, and was licensed with the United Pentecostal

Church International in July of 1958. In 1959, Pastor Artie Barnett retired, and Rev. Carl Helms

was elected Pastor of the church in Kingsburg, CA where he served for thirteen (13) years.

In 1972, God redirected the focus of Rev. Carl Helms’ ministry, and he assumed the

pastorate of First Pentecostal Church of Orosi from Rev. Joseph Domingues. His first service as

pastor was May 25, 1972. Pastor Helms served in that position until his retirement in 2004.

But Rev. Carl Helms never fully retired. He continued to preach the word of God, and

teach Bible studies until the last weeks before his passing. Rev. Carl Helms was a fierce

believer in prayer, fasting, and the power of the word of God.

In addition to the ministry, Rev. Helms worked a full-time job for many years. He worked

many seasonal jobs as a field worker, he worked for seventeen (17) years for the Del Monte

cannery in Kingsburg, CA, and he also worked many years in an auto shop as a mechanic and

tow-truck driver.

Carl Helms was a talented craftsman. He enjoyed woodworking, gardening, and

inventing handy ways to shell and store walnuts, pecans, and almonds. He always had a freezer

full of various kinds of nuts which he loved sharing with anyone that wanted them. He was an

avid outdoorsman which fueled his love hunting and fishing. He was an excellent cook,

specializing in his famous “barrel tri-tip and chicken,

” but he also loved eating at La Esperanza

Mexican Restaurant in Cutler, CA and Valhalla Restaurant in Visalia, CA.

Carl Helms is preceded in death by his beloved wife and fellow-laborer in the work of

God, Sis. Mamie Marie Helms on February 10, 2012. He is survived by Janette and Kenny

Gregg of Mountain Home, Arkansas, Karen and Clifford Barnett of Bothell, Washington, Peggy

and Jim Tredway of Exeter, California, and Carlette and Robert Marshall of Hulbert, Oklahoma.Carl Helms also leaves a legacy of eight (8) grandchildren, nineteen (19) great-grandchildren,

twenty-four (24) great-great grandchildren, and one (1) great-great-great grandchild.

will be missedRev. Carl Helms leaves behind a legacy of dedication to the work of God, and a love for bringing people closer to God and closer to one another.

A Celebration of Carls Life will take place on Friday, February 14, 2025 at 10:00 A.M. at Faith Tabernacle in Exeter. A Private Family burial will take place at Kingsburg Cemetery....

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