Helen Gloria Wimbley

Helen Gloria Ragland Wimbley, age 80, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, September 8, 2024, surrounded by her family at the University of Tennessee Medical Center, in Knoxville, Tennessee. Helen was born December 27, 1943 to Eddie Ragland Sr. and Mildred Henry Ragland in Knoxville, Tennessee. Helen was married to the late James Wimbley, II.

Helen was educated in the Knoxville City School system and graduated from Austin High School. She attended Draughons Business College and worked for Y-12 Plant prior to opening a daycare service in her home. Helen originally offered daycare to the North Knoxville area in Fountain City for 17 years from 1973 to 1990, as owner and operator of Oak Brook Day Care. She served as President of the Knoxville Daycare Homes Association for eight years and later served as Tennessee State President. She served on a variety of community boards which were directly related to child care services. Helen’s experience included her position as Tennessee Representative on the Board of the National Association out of Washington, D.C. From 1990 to 1999 she opened the ABC Kiddie Academy and the East Knoxville Learning Center located in the East Knoxville area. She provided services for a number of parents within the community to this day. According to the parents in the community, ABC Kiddie Academy and the East Knoxville Learning Center which are known as one of the best in the business singled-out as a well-disciplined child care service. To further petition the efforts of this on-going daycare facility, which is known to more than one generation of families. Children who received full daycare and after school assistance still remember. Now young adults themselves, these children who remember the services of the daycare, now have their own children in this daycare’s custody. Helen especially strived to help single-parent families and successfully became an asset to the community at large. Through her overall accomplishments of educational goals associated with childcare, Helen was instrumental in her efforts to keep parents worry free about their children.

Helen is preceded in death by her parents and husband; son, Kevin Lamar Wimbley; siblings, Ida Mae Ragland, Eddie Ragland Jr., Hubert Bowerman, and Thomas Curry; sister-in-law, Roberta Ragland; and nieces, Felicia, Darlene, and Veronica Ragland.

She leaves to cherish her memories: son, James Wimbley, III; daughters, LaTonia "Tasha" (Teddy) Bourne and Yolanda (Stephen) Cheatham; brother, Richard (Mattie) Ragland; sister-in-law, Pat Ragland; grandchildren, Jeremiah Bourne, Jametric, Nicholas, and James Wimbley, IV; great-grandchildren, Lacoreon, Jamirion, Courtney, Kal-el, Damian and Selene Wimbley, and Aysiah Roberts; special great niece, Precious Pearson, and a host of other family and friends.

The family would like to express a special appreciation to Tracie Rodgers, Betty Brown; Fresenius Kidney Dialysis Center staff members, Belinda Brooks, Belinda Hall, and Shavonnda McIlwain, for their loving care.

The family will receive friends on Sunday, September 15, 2024 from 2:00pm to 3:00pm, with funeral services to follow at Foster Chapel Baptist Church, 2101 Ault Road. Pastor Joseph Tolbert is officiating.

Interment will be at 1:00pm on Monday, September 16, 2024 at Sherwood Memorial Gardens, 3176 Airport Hwy, Alcoa, Tennessee.

Final arrangements entrusted to Jarnigan & Son Mortuary.