Sarah Helen Moneyhun Bird, 93, of Winchester, Virginia died at Shenandoah Valley Westminster-Canterbury on February 16, 2017.
Mrs. Bird was born March 4, 1924 in Wise County, Virginia, the daughter of the late Charles Carter and Sara Nancy Moneyhun. She was a graduate of Coeburn High School in Wise County, and Marymount University (Alexandria) from which she earned a Bachelor of Education degree.
Boyakin and Helen Bird were married at Emmanuel Church in Alexandria in 1946 and remained members there until the ‘70s. Mrs. Bird was instrumental in the founding of church schools for the Episcopal churches in Alexandria. She served as director of the church school at Grace Episcopal. Subsequently, she opened a new church day school, becoming its director, at Emmanuel Church on High Street that is still in operation today. She taught Kindergarten at St. Agnes School, and then English and Old Testament at St. Stephens School.
After moving to Winchester in the ‘80s Helen and Boyakin became members of Christ Episcopal Church. Both were very active in practically every aspect of church life. The current rector, The Rev. Webster Gibson, was one of the many students who had her for a teacher at St. Agnes and St. Stephen’s.
Helen loved cats and enjoyed gardening, birdwatching and studying butterflies. She was very knowledgeable about the history of Virginia, especially the Winchester area, and knew a great deal about architecture and furniture from the 18th and 19th century. Helen was a wise Bible scholar. Her heart was generous and she was always ready to comfort others with a hug, a hot casserole, flowers from her garden or an understanding ear.
Mrs. Bird is survived by her loving daughters and their husbands, Sara Bird Bicking (David) of Winchester, VA and Catherine Bird (Irvin Chewning) of Fredericksburg, VA; grandchildren, Christy Spencer, Becky Starkey, Jennifer Hodge, Matthew Wright, Katy Schain, and Nathan Bicking; and thirteen great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at Christ Episcopal Church, Winchester, VA at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 25, 2017 with The Rev. Webster Gibson and The Rev. Bridget Coffey celebrating. Immediately following, interment will occur at the Church Columbarium with a reception in the Tilford Room.
Helen was always ready to lend a hand to friends, and would be delighted to know that someone might do a kindness for others in remembrance of her. The family would prefer that in lieu of flowers memorial contributions be made to The Living Memorial Fund of Christ Episcopal Church, 114 W. Boscawen Street, Winchester, VA 22601 or the Westminster-Canterbury Employee Emergency Fund, 300 Westminster-Canterbury Road, Winchester, VA 22603.