RALEIGH - Helen Tucker Beckwith, 88, a prolific writer and storyteller, died Monday, Nov. 10, 2014. Born in Raleigh, she grew up in Louisburg, the daughter of William Blair Tucker and Helen Welch Tucker.

Under the name of Helen Tucker, she wrote 18 novels and 27 short stories published in more than two dozen countries.

She was graduated from Wake Forest College, did graduate work at Columbia University and was a reporter for newspapers and radio stations in Burlington, N.C., Idaho, Utah and Raleigh before becoming director of publicity and publications at the North Carolina Museum of Art.

Her novel "The Sound of Summer Voices" was serialized in 19 newspapers in Germany and over the BBC in England. In 1971, she was the first woman to receive the Distinguished Alumni Award from Wake Forest University, and the Franklin County Arts Council honored her for "outstanding service in the field of literary arts."

She is predeceased by her husband, William T. Beckwith, and is survived by a sister, Blair Tucker Hatcher (John) of Cary; a niece, Helen Hatcher Gregor (John) of Virginia Beach, and two nephews, Blair T. Hatcher (Rena) of Cary and John Hatcher III (Lynn) of Summerfield, N.C.

A graveside service will be held 11:00 AM Thursday at Oakwood Cemetery in Louisburg, NC. Memorials may be made to the organ fund at the church where she was a founding member: All Saints Anglican Church, 725 N. Boylan Ave., Raleigh, NC 27605.

Arrangements by Bryan-Lee Funeral Home, Raleigh.

Condolences may be sent to bryan-leefuneralhome.

Paid Obituary