Sunny Lee (Rhoda) Helms

Sunny Lee (Rhoda) Helms, 71, passed away on August 2, 2017. Surrounded by loved ones, she passed away peacefully while a violinist played a selection by Dvorak. Sunny was the daughter of the late Harold George Rhoda and Sarah Leola Rhoda. She is survived by David Michael Helms, her husband of 42 years, brother, Terry Rhoda and Sister-in-Law Andrea Rhoda of Eustice Florida, Sisters-in-Law Roberta Patishnock, Margaret Helms, Brothers-in-Law Glenn Helms and Gary Patishnock, of Laurel, Maryland. She is also survived by her nieces Caroline Helms of Alexandria, Virginia, Sarah Williams, and Rachel Patishnock of Laurel, Maryland and Nephew Alexander Helms of Phoenix, Arizona. Sunny was born and raised in Warren, Ohio. After graduating from Warren G. Harding High School in 1964, Sunny attended Kent State University where she graduated Cum Laud in 1968 with a Bachelor in Music concentrating on Organ Performance and Music Theory. She received her Masters in Music in 1970. After moving to Maryland, Sunny lived out her devout Christian faith in many ways, especially through music. Sunny's special joy and ministry was playing in church. She served as organist at First Baptist Church of Laurel, Maryland, Mount Zion United Methodist Church in Highland, Maryland and the Glenmont United Methodist Church in Silver Spring for the last 20 years as well as serving as one of the official Organists at the University of Maryland Chapel where she played for weddings and commencements. Sunny also taught hundreds of children and adults to play the piano. She loved dogs, playing cards and board games with family and friends and vacationing at Walt Disney World.