HELEN DOSTER

At the age of 100, Martha “Helen” Doster passed away peacefully surrounded with love on June 3, 2024, at her home in Donalsonville, GA. The days leading up to June 3, were filled with laughs, smiles and tears from family and friends. Helen’s quick wit, sharp mind and abundance of love never left her nor will it be forgotten by the multitude who loved her.

Services for Mrs. Doster will be held on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, at 2:00 PM at Trinity Crossroads Church with Rev. Glen Hancock officiating.  Interment will follow at Friendship Cemetery with Clifford Shaeffer, Bryan Shaeffer, Christopher Shaeffer, Garrett Barefoot, Peyton Shaeffer, and Greg Mims serving as active pallbearers.  Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at 1:00 PM at the church. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Trinity Crossroads Church “In memory of Helen Doster”. The address is Trinity Crossroads Church, PO Box 4627, Donalsonville, GA 39845. 

On December 20, 1923, Helen was born in Abbeville, Alabama to Johnnie Dime and Henry Albert Hastey as the eighth of twelve children. She graduated with honors from Seminole County High School in 1942, and married Bryant Henry Mims on August 1, 1942.   Bryant’s time in the military, and later career as a farmer, led them to many homes but also led to two children they loved dearly: Martha Jean Shaeffer, born in 1943, and David Henry Mims born in 1953. Bryant unfortunately passed away on January 5, 1970, but Helen’s love story was not finished.

Helen soon found herself in Donalsonville, Georgia, where she caught the eye of David Doster.   After several years of courting by David, the two were married on June 6, 1976. They would work together at Security Gas Company and Lois Restaurant, where they never met a stranger. They retired happily in 1999, and spent their lives loving each other and all of those around them. For over 48 years they did everything together and, if you were fortunate enough, they might both call you “sugar.” They were two peas in a pod; where she went, he went; where he went, she went. Two had indeed become one.

Anyone that knew Helen knew her love for her Savior and God, her church, her family, and the Atlanta Braves. Her last days were filled with joy not because she thought those things were important, or even believed them to be, but because she knew they were all that mattered. To know Helen was not just to love her, it was to be loved by her.

Helen is survived by her husband David Doster; two children- Martha Shaeffer and David Mims (Cynthia); five grandchildren- Clifford (Melissa), Bryan (Cindy), Christopher (Rhona), Courtney and Lauren; and two great-grandchildren Peyton and Garrett.

Helen was preceded in death by her parents, Johnnie Dime and Henry Albert Hastey; her siblings John Marion, Baby, Albert, May, Lutie, Frances, Luther, Lillian, Edward, Jean, Mary Alice; her son-in-law Terry Shaeffer; and great-granddaughter Cayla Shaeffer.