Maxine C. Helmey

Mrs. Maxine Cela Helmey, 87, died on March 3, 2024 at Hospice Savannah.

Maxine was born in McRae, GA in 1937 to Dewey and Sally Davis. She was raised by her mother and grandmother. After moving to Savannah with her mother, she completed her High School education at Commercial High School in Savannah, GA with the class of 1955.

Maxine loved to dance. As a teenager, she enjoyed a trip to Myrtle Beach where she learned how to dance the Shag. When she came back, she became a dance instructor with the Arthur Murray dance studio.

Maxine was married to Joe Cela with whom she had 3 boys, Tony, Mark, and Dean. She became a hairstylist and operated beauty salons from the mid 60’s through the late 80’s. In 1982, she married Bobby “Reds” Helmey and moved to Augusta, Ga. In Augusta, Maxine picked up an artist’s paint brush and learned how to paint. While in Augusta, she was also involved in church ministries for outreach to addicts, and to the country of Haiti.

Returning to Savannah, in the 90’s, she became one of Savannah’s top artists, painting in watercolors, acrylics, and oils. She had several galleries in the City Market area throughout the 90’s and in to the early 2000’s. Her work received numerous awards and has been collected by many. She also taught art through smart seniors.

For the past year, she lived at Savannah Legacy in Memory Care. In the week prior to her death, she was cared for by Hospice Savannah. The family would like to extend their sincere thanks to the staff of caregivers at Hospice Savannah who were dedicated to her comfort during her final days of life.

She is survived by her husband of 42 years, Bobby “Reds” Helmey; her sons, Tony Cela (Debbie) of Hardeeville, Mark Cela (Sharon) of Newington, and Dean Cela (Sheila) of Rincon; her step-daughters, Kim Birge (Larry) of Savannah, Kristy Helmey of Savannah; and step-son Kelly Helmey (Cathy Savacol).

She was blessed with 7 grandchildren; Danielle Cela (Scott), Shalon Cela (Eric Brazile), Matthew Cela (Meghan), Catherine Ojo (Michael), Elizabeth Phillips (Tyler), Laura Miller (Jimmy Miller), and Jason Birge. In addition, she is survived by 11 great-grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held on Thursday, March 7, 2024 at 12:00 noon at Baker McCullough Funeral Home, Hodgson Memorial Chapel (7415 Hodgson Memorial Drive Savannah, Georgia 31406).

A private interment will follow in Bonaventure Cemetery.

Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association ( www.alz.org ).