Johnnie Newell Helms

Johnnie Newell Helms, 93, left his boots this side of the planet on April 24th, after a long fight with cancer. He passed away peacefully, at home. He was born to a sharecropper’s family in 1931, and was the last of his six siblings.

Johnnie served in the 8th Army, 64th AAA Artillery in the Far East during the Korean War, and served on the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department from 1953 until retirement in 1986, with the rank of Sergeant. He was the first elected President of Charlotte’s Fraternal Order of Police, and graduated from the 110th class of the FBI Academy. Through his efforts, helmets became mandatory issue in the CMPD Motorcycle Division, and his helmet saved his life in an accident, later.

He had three children, Melody Helms Sears Hooker, Frank Helms, and Melissa Helms Albers. He had eight grandchildren, Sean, Trey, Jonathan, Taylor, Holly, Heather, Natalie, and Dan. Johnnie had nine great grandchildren, Rowan, Lochlan, Caroline, Olivia, Colt, Thomas, Aaron, Heydon, and Chloe

.He had a red barn, several John Deere tractors, and a wicked sense of humor. He loved Henry McKenna bourbon, country music, his dogs, and good looking women, especially Dolly Parton. He enjoyed reading historical non-fiction, and valued education. Johnnie Helms received his high school diploma and earned an Associates degree at CPCC later in life. He taught a horticulture class at his farm, and that was a proud time for him.

Whether cooking pigs at the Red Fez Club, telling stories with his friends at the Gate, or having heart to heart conversations with good friends on his porch, Johnnie kept it real. He was a man who truly gave back to his community in tangible and intangible ways, without pride or complaint.

The man had a soft spot for orphans, abandoned and neglected children, widows, and honest folk who were going through rough times. He loved his men and women on the police force, and we believe being included in their functions kept him with us a while longer, as did all his family gatherings. He believed in justice, had a strong sense of right and wrong, and had a positive impact on many people.

Johnnie gave his soul to our Lord when he was thirty years of age, made his public declaration of faith, and was baptized at Northside Baptist Church in Charlotte.

He wasn’t perfect, but he was our family’s John Wayne. Larger than life.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 21 at 3 PM at the Charlotte Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #9 at 1201 Hawthorne Lane.

In lieu of flowers, friends can drop by the farm with a dogwood tree, Damson Plum tree, a Black Satin blackberry bush, or just hang out on the porch with the family. Just bring your best Johnnie story. We have the bourbon.

Hartsell Funeral Home of Concord is serving the Helms family.