Visitation; Friday, February 6, 2015 from 1:00pm - 6:00pm at the Long Beach Colonial Mortuary.

Service; Saturday, February 7, 2015 at 11:00am at New Hope Baptist Church; 1160 New York Street; Long Beach, CA.

Interment; Private

Obituary

"For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made of hands, eternal in the heavens."
2 Corinthians 5:1-2

Helen Lenise Miles was born on March 27, 1957 in Mobile, Alabama. Although a native of Alabama, Helen grew up in California.

I wanted to write my obituary myself because who could better tell it than myself. I didn't want anyone trying to think of things to say, because I lived my life the way you saw me each day.

September of 1958 was the year I arrived in San Francisco, California along with my oldest brother Ty and my grandmother, MaDear. Later moving to Long Beach, California, the three of us joined New Hope Baptist Church. For the next thirty years I was taught that troubles don't last always and what you don't know could make a whole new world, and something that I heard at least once a day, "THE LORD IS SITTING HIGH AND LOOKING LOW."

I know that I have disappointed a few people in my earthly life span, but "MY" Lord and Savior; Jesus Christ has forgiven me because I asked him to. What I want my family and friends to remember the most about me today is my smile. And to remember that deep down inside I TRULY loved and cared for and about each and every one of you.

Son, you know from conception, "Mommie" has always loved you. You know this because I said it to you daily and in return, you said it to me. Son, the personal love I shared with you daily is the same love you are to pass on to your children and their children. The most important love you are to share with them is the love of Jesus.

To my sisters and brother: Being raised by my grandmother, you know that it took many years to meet all of you face to face. As I look back on it now, I am glad that it took me that long to meet some of you, because I was old enough to build bonds that were never formed. You too, remember my smile and (even though I wasn't to some of you) you know that I always considered myself to be the "BABY" of the family.

To my mother (if she is still alive), show the same type of LOVE and MERCY God gave and showed you to "all" of my brothers and sisters. To my daddy (if he is still alive), you know that I told you that you were loved each time we saw each other and the many times that we talked over the telephone. I loved you daddy!

Michael, Tamika, Jason, Torren, I loved you as my own! My Long Beach cousins, what can I say? You know that I acted as though I was your mama! (smile). And to all my other relatives and friends, too numerous to mention individually; Remember Helen, Remember Nese, Remember Momo, Remember Auntie, Remember Milesie, Remember ME!!! For Within Each Individual Heart I Will Always Be!!!

During the past five years, Helen faced many health challenges that took a toll on her body but never her spirit. She returned to Heaven on Monday, January 26, 2015 and leaves to cherish her memory a son; Jerraun (Katrina) Miles, 3 grandchildren; Jazmyne, DeLon and Terrell Miles, all of Bellflower, CA; 3 sisters, Maggie (Edward) Forney, Lakewood, CA; Melenese Miller and Lynn Miller of Mobile, AL; 3 brothers, Richard Miles, Bradenton, Fl; Terrence (Charlene) Miles, Lexington Park, MD; Maurice Miller Sr., Mobile, AL; 8 nephews, Christopher (Mone') Miles, Detroit, MI; Michael (Teresa) Forney, Surprise, AZ; Jason Forney, Chino Hills, CA; Tony Miles, Jr., Great Lakes, IL; Antonio Miles, St. Petersburg, FL; Darius Miles, Largo FL; Maurice Miller Jr., Mobile, AL; Van Allen Miller, Mobile, AL; 5 nieces, Antoinette Miles, Philadelphia, PA; Cristy Miles, Detroit, MI; Shawnte' Bush, Houston, TX; Teresa (Manuel) Romero, Baltimore, MD; Jessica Baker, Flint, MI; 4 great nephews, Logan, Kai and Kellan Forney, Alejandro Romero, 2 great nieces, Kaitlyn Miles, Olivia Baker; 1 uncle, Dezebee Miles, San Francisco, CA; 3 aunts, Clara (Carl) Lee, Long Beach, CA; Betty Mosley, Mobile, AL; Ethel (Charles) Smoke, Mobile, AL. She was preceded in death by her beloved grandmother, Maggie Warren, mother, Martha Miles, father, David Miller, 2 brothers, Dezebee Tyrone Miles, Tony Miles 1 sister, Cynthia Miles and 1 nephew, Warren Miles. She also leaves to cherish her memory, her God Daughter Tameka Guss and several cousins and their spouses and numerous friends.