Helen Jean Cannon (Lansing)

Helen Jean Cannon went to be with the Lord on the afternoon of Tuesday, October 17, 2023, in Lansing, Michigan at the age of 66 years old. She was born in Owassa, AL, to Irene (Mims) Boykin and Isiah Mims on Friday, January 18, 1957. Helen was the oldest of 10 children. She is affectionately called “Jean” by her family.

Helen worked at Michigan State University (MSU) for her entire working career. Though she did not have children of her own, she became a mother figure to the many students she worked with over the years at MSU. She retired from the university in January 2018 and, in less than a year, she missed it so much that she returned to work on a part-time basis. Aside from spending quiet time at home with her husband Jeff, Helen had several hobbies. She had a love for flowers and gardening and often spent time working in her yard. She even tried her hand at growing a pineapple. Helen was teaching herself to play her mother’s piano in her free time. She also loved to complete puzzles, sing songs by Anita Baker, and snuggle with her fur baby, Max.

Helen is survived by her loving, husband Jeffrey Cannon; 4 brothers, Leon “Bobby” Mims, Isiah Mims, Gary (Shay) Mims, and Carl L. (Kelly) Boykin, Jr.; 4 sisters, Vanessa (Floyd) Donald, Theresa (John Henry) Goodson, Angely Mims (Harry) Cobb “Angie” and Tracy Boykin Ellis. She is also leaves to cherish, Broderic Jordan, with whom she shared a beautiful motherly bond, several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends, including special family friends, including Frank James, Sr. and best friend, Timothy Burton.

Helen was preceded in death by her father, Isiah Mims; mother, Irene Mims Boykin, stepfather Carl L. Boykin, and brother, Johnny Earl Mims.