Helen Lamb

PRINCETON – Helen Lamb, 86, of Princeton, died Tuesday, February 17, 2026. Born on February 8, 1940, in Speedway, WV, she was the daughter of the late Herman White and Gladys Pennington White. Helen made Athens her lifelong home—a place she walked through, quite literally, with steady steps and an open heart. She never had a driver’s license, but she didn’t need one; she knew every sidewalk, every neighbor, and every rhythm of the town she loved. Helen was a woman of deep faith, guided by her love of God and her belief in caring for others. Her generosity was an expression of that faith—quiet, steady, and unwavering. She had a gift for finding treasures in the most unexpected places. She delighted in the art of a good sale, often buying things she didn’t personally need but knew someone else eventually would. Her home became a storehouse of future kindness—items tucked away not out of impulse, but out of thoughtfulness. If you mentioned needing something, Helen already had it waiting for you. She took pride in mowing her own grass every week, a small ritual that reflected her independence and her love for tending to the world around her. But her greatest joy was her family, especially her grandchildren, who were the center of her heart. When they grew older, Helen continued sharing her love with children of all ages by becoming a nanny—an extension of her natural instinct to nurture, comfort, and care. Helen was the first to show up when someone needed help and the last to stop checking in. She had a way of making people feel seen, supported, and never alone. Her faith showed in her actions: in the way she served, the way she listened, and the way she loved without hesitation. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers, Fairley White and Dale White (Glenda) both of Speedway; and her nephew, Fairley Dale White of Speedway. Those left to cherish her memory include her only daughter, Pam Lamb Shushkowski (Stanley) of Winston Salem, NC; her brother, Larry White (Kitty) of Speedway; her grandchildren, Kaci Meadows of Winston Salem, NC, Andrew Meadows of Athens and Patrick Shushkowski (Ashley) of Winston Salem, NC; two great grandchildren, Julian Shushkowski and Jocelyn Shushkowski both of Winston Salem, NC; her great-niece and great-nephew, Gracie White and Fairley Dale White II, both of Athens; and many close lifetime friends. A celebration of Helen’s life will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, February 21, 2026 at Painter’s Chapel, Route 20, Speedway, with Pastor Randy Sargent officiating. Interment will follow at the Pennington/White Cemetery in Speedway. Family and friends will serve as pallbearers. Helen leaves behind a legacy of kindness, practicality, humor, and unwavering love—a life measured not in grand moments, but in countless small ones that made a lasting difference. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association - West Virginia Chapter at www.alz.org/wv. The family will receive friends Saturday, February 21, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. until service hour at the Painter’s Chapel in Speedway. Arrangements by Bailey-Kirk Funeral Home in Princeton. Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.bailey-kirk.com.

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Helen Lamb

February 8, 1940 - February 17, 2026