Helen Hazel Fann was born in Cleveland, Ohio on January 18, 1925.

She was the older of two daughters born to the late Harvey Fann, Jr. and Cora Lee Johnson. Her sister Mildred, preceded her in death.

Helen spent her youth between New York, Michigan, and Ohio, graduating from Central High School in Cleveland, Ohio. She then received an Associate’s Degree in Business from Michigan School of Business.

Helen accepted Christ at an early age and was a member of Greater Abyssinia Baptist Church where the late Reverend Henry Payton was pastor. She later joined Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church under the late Reverend Leroy Kelley. In 2012, Helen became a member of Mt. Zion Church in Oakwood Village, Ohio.

On March 17, 1945, she married Joe Whitley in Cleveland, Ohio, and to this union, three sons were born: Joe Harvey, Melvin, and Michael Duane. They were married until Joe’s passing in 1976.

During her lifetime, Helen enjoyed doing domestic work. She worked as a satellite cook for the Cleveland School System, and also an administrative assistant for Dance Cleveland.

Helen was an expert seamstress and an avid reader. She enjoyed shopping and doing puzzles of all kinds. She always had HGTV, The Food Network and CNN on her television.

Although Helen never drove a car, she could go any and everywhere on RTA and give others directions to their destinations.

Helen always enjoyed conversation and would talk for hours.

She was preceded in death by husband Joe, sons Joe Harvey and Melvin, granddaughter Charise Whitley-Hale, and sister Mildred Minefee.

She leaves to mourn one son, Michael Whitley, granddaughters Kelly Rogers (Raynard), Tonya of Houston, Texas, Michelle, Melanie, and Melissa Whitley, twelve great-grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren, her nieces Denise Minefee, Celeste Ward (Jeff), daughters-in law Carolyn Whitley, Sheila Whitley, and a host of other relatives and friends.