Helen Beatrice Mabe Stamatas

Helen Beatrice Mabe Stamatas, 84, long-time resident of Surf City, NC and more recently of Randolph County, NC, completed her earthly journey and went to her heavenly home on Tuesday, June 20, 2023 at Universal Healthcare in Ramseur.

Helen was born March 19, 1939 in Reidsville, NC, to Odis William Mabe and Frances “Jackie” Chilton Mabe Evans.

Helen lived her life to the fullest, always striving to fill her 84 years with fun and excitement. She loved animals and was always an energetic and adventurous soul.  As a child, she loved riding her bike “no hands”, tried climbing the highest tree in the neighborhood, and relished showing off her cartwheel skills on the sidewalks of Reidsville. As an adult, she was an enterprising entrepreneur, unafraid to learn new things and try new ventures. For a time, she owned and operated her own photography business, traveling to churches in North Carolina and Virginia to take family photographs for individuals and church directories. Perhaps her most unusual vocational adventure was when she partnered with her beloved husband, Dick, as they drove their Peterbilt semi-truck to haul munitions from Alabama to places all over the country. This allowed Helen and Dick to see and enjoy many exciting locations in the United States. A favorite of Helen’s was Las Vegas where she loved playing the slot machines.

Helen loved being in and around the water. At one time she lived on Claytor Lake in Virginia and later moved to Surf City where she could enjoy fishing, swimming and boating from her own backyard. She also enjoyed going to yard sales, hoping to find a cast-off treasure or maybe even a prized piece of McCoy pottery, which she sometimes sold in local shops.

Everywhere she went, people were attracted to Helen, and she easily made friends. At Universal Healthcare, where she spent the last part of her earthly journey, it seemed everyone loved her. Many of the staff would visit her room--just to have her “I love you” brighten up their day.

Although her life was not free of trials, tribulations and sadness, she lived her life freely and fully. When she laid down her final burden and went home to be with Jesus, she left a life full of living and many family and friends to cherish her memory.
In addition to her parents, Helen was predeceased by her husband, James Richard “Dick” Stamatas; son, Todd Douglas Schoolfield; sister, Nancy Mabe Hood; and step-father, Larry Curtis “Jimmy” Evans.

Helen is survived by daughter, Deborah Schoolfield Kennedy and husband, Dale, of Asheboro, NC; son, Charles E. “Chuck” Schoolfield, Jr. of Pulaski, VA; daughter, Mary Schoolfield Cashatt of McLeansville, NC; grandchildren, Susan Kennedy and husband Shane Culler, Katie Kennedy Odenweller, Chris Kennedy and wife Emily, Jonathan Kennedy, Charles E. Schoolfield III and wife Janessa, Zachary Cashatt and wife Ashley, Andrea Cashatt, Shawn Schoolfield, LeighAnn Schoolfield; fourteen great grandchildren; sisters, Shirley Mabe Kendrick of Graham, NC, Geneva Mabe Speas and husband Ray of Sneads Ferry, NC, Cindy Mabe Hobby of Graham, NC; brother, Russell Leonard Evans of Reidsville, NC; several nieces and nephews and many loving friends and neighbors.

Graveside funeral service for Mrs. Stamatas will be conducted by her son-in-law, Reverend Dale Kennedy, on Sunday, June 25, 2023 at 2:00pm at Highland Memory Gardens Cemetery, 5555 Lee Highway, Dublin, VA.

The family expresses their appreciation to the staff of Cross Road Retirement Community, Asheboro, NC and of Universal Health Care Ramseur for their loving care of Helen during the final part of her earthly journey.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations to honor Helen be made to Hospice of Randolph County, 416 Vision Drive, Asheboro, NC 27203.