Helen Councell Mallalieu

Helen Marjorie Dorothy Councell Booker Mallalieu, age 90, died March 15, 2012, at the home of her daughter, Jo Ann Booker Adams, in Sudlersville, MD. She was surrounded by her loved ones. She was born to the late William Sherman Councell, Sr., and Flossie Plugge Councell on December 26, 1921. Helen was the second daughter of seven children and was educated in Talbot and Queen Anne's County Schools. Helen and her siblings were very active in the 4-H Club. In the 1941, Maryland Tobacco Festival Pageant Contest in La Plata, she was Princess of Queen Anne's County. She wore a gown she had made which was a copy of one worn in "Gone With The Wind." After her graduation from Church Hill High School, she worked for the Queen Anne's County Record Observer and at Kent Munitions Plant in Chestertown. After marriage to Joseph Ralph Booker, she accompanied him to military bases in California and New Mexico while he served in the United States Army Air Corps. When they returned to this area, they started their grocery business, J.R. Booker & Co. in Sudlersville which they ran until 1965. In the early seventies, Helen earned her real estate license and worked for Linwood Yates in Centreville, MD. In 1973, she bought a house in Crumpton, MD, where she lived on the water. As an active member of Crumpton United Methodist Church for 22 years, she was elected treasurer, worked on several committees, and enjoyed sharing her flowers with the church. One of Helen's greatest pleasures was travel. When she visited her daughter and son-in-law in Germany, she stopped in England and Switzerland to visit pen pals from her early school days. She and her husband, Bill, traveled across the country many times. Her most memorable travels were her seven visits to Isreal with side trips to Egypt, Petra, and Italy. Helen was well-known for her knitting, needlework, and gardening skills. Many will remember her for her kind deeds and generosity. Helen was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Ralph Booker Sr., her son, Joseph Ralph Booker Jr., and William Mallalieu; and brothers, William Sherman Councell, Jr., and Michael Tyrone Councell. Helen is survived by her daughters, Diane Booker Harris of Fayetteville, AR, and Jo Ann Booker Adams (Pearson B.) of Sudlersville; grandchildren, Joel Chandler Harris (Janie), Montogomery Harris, Kimberly April Adams McGown (Brian); great-grandchildren, Samantha Adams Sink, David Stewart Sink, John Harris and Katie Harris; siblings, Catherine Cherry, Palmer Federick Councell, Rodney V. Councell, and Faye Councell Polillo; six nephews; six nieces; and sixteen cousins. Graveside services will be held on Tuesday, March 20, at the Sudlersville Cemetery (located on the corner of Rt. 300 and Sudlersville Cemetery Road) at 11 a.m. The Rev. Jane Ayers will officiate the service. The family requests that memorial contributions be given towards a love offering to Crumpton United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 343, Crumpton, MD. 21628.

Helen Councell Mallalieu

December 26, 1921 - March 15, 2012