Helen Saleeby
December 12, 1917 – January 3, 2017
Helen N. Saleeby, 99, formerly of Florence and Dillon, SC, died on January 3. Born in Monroe, NC on December 12, 1917, she was the daughter of the late Najeeb and Nazira Saleeby and the sister of the late David N. Saleeby of Florence, Edmond Saleeby of Dillon, SC, Alex Saleeby of Charlotte, NC and Eva Saleeby of Monroe, NC. She graduated from Monroe High School in 1935 and received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English from Duke University, where she was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. Ms. Saleeby devoted herself to teaching and guiding students of all ages. She organized and then served as Executive Director of the Girl Scouts Council of the Pee Dee for 10 years, and led the development of what is now Camp Sandy Ridge. She then served as a counselor at Duke and went on to teach English at Myers Park High School in Charlotte, NC until her retirement in 1983. She was a world traveler and tour guide. In 2009 she was honored as a Woman of Distinction by the Girl Scouts of Eastern Carolina. Ms. Saleeby was a member of the Episcopal Church.
Surviving are two nephews, John (Suzanne) Saleeby of Columbia, SC and David Saleeby of
Florence, great nieces Emily Saleeby and Lauren (Keith) Barron and her children, and great nephew Tim Saleeby. “Aunt Helen” loved her family dearly and took deep pride in her Lebanese Christian heritage.
A graveside service will be conducted at Suncrest Cemetary in Monroe, NC at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, January 6. Memorials may be made to the Lebanon Childrens’ Ministry in care of Kids Alive International, at 2507 Cumberland Drive, Valparaiso, IN 46383.
The family would like to give special thanks to the staff of Atria Forest Lake Assisted Living and Palmetto Health Richland Hospital in Columbia for their excellent care for Ms. Saleeby.
