Obituary of Helen Lee Anderson-Cokley

Helen Lee Anderson-Cokley, a longtime resident of Catonsville, Maryland, and registered nurse who delivered care in hospitals, schools and the community, transitioned to her heavenly home on Dec. 24, 2025, at age 91. She was a devoted mother who took profound pride in her six children, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Helen was born on April 1, 1934, in Scranton, South Carolina, the second oldest of five children of Eddie Lee, a farmer, and Catherine Wilson Lee, a cook and homemaker. Helen's parents instilled in her the traditional values of hard work, love of family and faith in God. She was baptized at an early age. Helen was educated in the segregated public schools of Lake City, South Carolina, before heading to Baltimore to study nursing at Provident Hospital, one of the first hospitals in the country to train Black medical professionals. As part of her training, Helen did clinical rotations in pediatrics, emergency medicine and other disciplines at the University of Maryland Hospital and The Johns Hopkins Hospital. She graduated from Provident Hospital in 1956 and became a registered nurse. While a student at Provident Hospital, Helen met Twidlyn Anderson, a resident doctor from Kingston, Jamaica. Helen and Twidlyn dated, later married and moved to the Melvin Park Apartments in Catonsville. With four children born in six years, the family quickly outgrew the space. Fortunately, they were blessed to build a house three blocks down the street, in which they ultimately raised their six children. That home on Suter Road remained Helen's permanent residence. Early in her career, Helen worked evenings and weekends as a registered nurse at Provident Hospital, Lutheran Hospital, St. Joseph Medical Center and St. Agnes Hospital, while Dr. Anderson worked in Washington, D.C. After her husband took seriously ill and died in 1971, Helen became a widow at age 37 with six children between 2 and 13 years old. Life as a single parent brought extraordinary challenges, but she managed to raise her kids and have a successful nursing career thanks to the grace of God, supportive neighbors and dependable friends. Leaning on skills learned from an upbringing that centered on self-sufficiency, Helen baked fresh bread, gardened, canned fruits and vegetables, made her own clothes and dresses and pantsuits for her girls, and taught all the children how to cook and clean. For a few years she mentored young ladies from the community as a group leader for the Camp Fire Girls (an organization created as a counterpart to the Boy Scouts). Helen believed discipline began at home, and that education and responsibility were the keys to generational success. She kept her children busy with schoolwork, sports and recreational activities, and formal music programs. She assigned them weekly chores in the home and made clear to each child that they should find jobs as soon as they were old enough to work. With a unique understanding of each child's passions, she invested in their interests—some of which developed into lifelong pursuits and career choices. She was proud that each of her children graduated college—with three going on to earn advanced degrees—and were able to thrive in their professional careers. In the 1970s, Helen was inspired to leave hospital nursing for a position with the Baltimore City Health Department as a community health nurse. Her new role, working as a school nurse in several city schools, was a blessing. Not only did the job have a weekday work schedule that allowed her to spend more time with her family and earn better pay and benefits, but the job also gave Helen the opportunity to educate students and their families about health and well-being. With the health care field rapidly evolving, Helen enrolled in Towson University to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). She recalled how going back to school after 40 years was one of the most difficult things she had done. Helen graduated in May 1994 at age 60, and credited her children's encouragement and assistance with class assignments for that achievement. Her children and Theodore Cokley, a childhood friend who would later become her husband, were present at her commencement. Helen retired from Baltimore City government in 2002. Helen and Theodore married on April 6, 1996, at Morning Star Baptist Church in Catonsville. Over the years, they enjoyed family gatherings, worshipped together and even bowled in a community bowling league. They traveled extensively. One of Helen's vacation highlights was a bucket-list trip to Jerusalem, where she touched the Western Wall. She was baptized in the Jordan River. Helen's life was anchored in the Lord. She became a member of Morning Star Baptist Church in January 1963, serving under the leadership of three pastors. With her children in tow, she taught Sunday School and co-chaired various events. She later joined the Senior Choir and Comfort Choir, and helped establish the health ministry at the Winters Lane location. Helen even took piano lessons alongside her granddaughter, Latia, in the church's school of music. Under Bishop Dwayne C. Debnam, Helen participated in the member development and Christian education ministry. Desiring a deeper understanding of Bible Scripture, she completed the three-year discipleship class and later served to guide others as a facilitator. With Theodore's passing in 2021 and her declining health, Helen went to live with her eldest son, Philip, in Clinton, Maryland, where she was lovingly cared for. She spent weekends with her other children and at her Catonsville home. She enjoyed talking on the phone, family gatherings, and checking out Steve Harvey's bold and colorful suits on Family Feud. In her final days, Helen found comfort in listening to her great-grandchildren sing Christmas songs. She passed away in Clinton. As the last surviving child of Eddie and Catherine Lee, Helen cherished her role as the Lee Family matriarch. She is survived by daughter Janet Anderson; sons Philip Anderson, Dr. John Anderson (Allison) and David Anderson (Monique); daughter-in-law Valerie Anderson; 10 grandchildren: Latia Few, Jasmine Neal (Rashard), Jeena Keli (Maurice), Jocelyn Anderson, Laila Anderson, Lauryn Anderson, Trevor Anderson, Tarah Anderson, Tori Anderson and Tyler Anderson; seven great-grandchildren; as well as nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Helen is predeceased by daughters Sharon Anderson (2024) and Beverly Anderson (2025), husbands Dr. Twidlyn Anderson (1971) and Theodore Cokley (2021), siblings Ethel Cameron Singletary, Berthene Graham (William), Eddie Wesley Lee Sr. (Freddie), Ernest Lee (Vernell), Lawrence Lee (Betty), step and adopted brothers and sisters, and other family members. Helen Anderson-Cokley will be remembered as a kind, resilient and faithful woman of God, a resourceful and fierce advocate for her children, and a dedicated grandmother, great-grandmother and aunt who loved her family. She is loved deeply and will be dearly missed.