(MURFREESBORO) The Heart of Tennessee lost a caring community leader Saturday (2/3/2024) with the passing of Helene Colvin. Woodfin Funeral Chapel announced that a Celebration of Life will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers please make a donation to the Rotary Foundation, A Soldiers’ Child, or Doors of Hope.
Helene was a Shreveport, LA native and loved to cook, especially Cajun. That talent will be remembered by many.
She had a degree in business administration from Louisiana Tech, and did graduate work at the University of Georgia.
Colvin found her life’s home in Murfreesboro in 1969. She came here to be the director of marketing at Citizens Central Bank. Later Helene became the Executive director of the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce, Murfreesboro manager and a partner at J.C. Bradford & Co, branch manager for the Murfreesboro office of Merrill Lynch, Bank M Investments, and FirstBank Investment Partners where she retired at the end of 2021.
Not only was Helene a business leader, but in her almost 55-years here, she was quickly spotted as having the skills to move organizations forward.
Colvin was past president of the MTSU Foundation, former member of the board Crime Stoppers, and treasurer of the Linebaugh Foundation Board. She was a previous chair of The Center for the Arts, member of the MTSU business advisory board, and member of the DAR and the Rutherford County Historical Society.
Helene joined the Murfreesboro Rotary Club in 1986 as a group of the first ladies in the state to be in Rotary. Later, she became the first female president of the club. She remained an active and devoted Rotarian.
Tributes
Dr. Gloria Bonner: "There are some things in life that, try as we may, just cannot be adequately done. One of those things, for me at least, is to express adequately what I feel about the loss of my dear friend and Rotarian, Helene Colvin.
Helene and I worked closely together as members of the Murfreesboro (Noon) Rotary Club, and it was my honor to count her among my friends. She was a trailblazer and a person of exceptional warmth and wisdom, and her loss leaves a void that will not be readily filled.
I respected Helen as an outstanding servant leader, a person whose natural abilities of leadership inspired and enlivened those in her presence to their finest achievements. She was universally loved and respected. Indeed, she earned the admiration of everyone with whom she came into contact.
For those of us who are left, she will continue to live in our memories and our hearts. I think she knows that we will carry on in the manner which she modeled for us throughout her exemplary life."
Andrea Loughry: I first knew Helene as a mother of 2 young boys. The setting was the MTSU early childhood program in which I had administrative duties during the late 60”s and early 70. Later in career changes, we both were involved with some of the first professional women involved in business and community activities. Helene was a fun loving personality and honest businesswoman who was supportive of other women.
Kent Syler: 'Helene Colvin was a beacon of light in our community, a true testament to the power of kindness and dedication. Throughout her life, she embodied the spirit of “Service Above Self” and left an indelible mark on the lives of many, both near and far.
Helene's instrumental role in organizing clothing shipments and facilitating adoptions for Romanian children showcased her unwavering commitment to making the world a better place.
Her contributions to numerous organizations and foundations were profound. As past president of the MTSU Foundation, she helped shape the future of education and philanthropy in our community. Her involvement with Crime Stoppers and the Linebaugh Foundation Board underscored her dedication to safety and community welfare."
John Black: I have had the honor and pleasure to have known Helene since 1991 when the ownership of Smyrna Airport was officially transferred from the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority to the newly created Smyrna/Rutehrford County Airport Authority. As a founding member of the Smyrna/Rutherford County Airport Authority, Helene was instrumental in over three decades of growth and development of the airport. Her influence, knowledge and true dedication to the airport was remarkable. Through her vision along with the others who served alongside her, the Smyrna Airport has been transformed into a tremendous economic engine for the region and has become the busiest general aviation airport in the state with over $250 million dollars invested and an annual economic impact of $232 million. Her legacy will live on in so many ways. I will miss our dear friend Helene, who was a treasure to all.
Lee Rennick: "Helene Colvin has always been an inspiration to me. I had the privilege of serving as secretary when she became the first female president of the Rotary Club of Murfreesboro, also known as Noon Rotary. She was one of the first few women invited to join Rotary in Murfreesboro, and she once told me of how honored she felt to open doors for other women into Rotary."
She was a founding member of the board of directors of the Smyrna Rutherford County Airport Authority and remained on the board until her death. The growth and development of the airport was a source of great pride for her.
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