Helena was born at Harlem Hospital in Manhattan, New York City on Friday, September 24, 1948, to Lewis H. Ball Sr. and Helen Pooler Ball, Helena was the fifth of nine children, with Ruth Ann, Vivian, Lewis and Freddy preceding her; and Jake, Donald, Mark and Ronald coming after her. Raised in boisterous and lively family, Helena developed a listening ear and even at a young age, was know to “mother” her siblings. She graduated from high school at P.S. 27 in the Red Hook section of Brooklyn and went on to work in the meat department of a local supermarket. It is there she met her future husband, Johnnie Lee Joyner and they were married in 1966.

Johnnie and Helena had three boys in succession, Tony Milton Dyer, Johnny Jr., and Lewis. Michael, the last one, appeared six years later. As hardworking parents, Johnnie supported his growing family as a mechanic with his own shop, People’s Garage, with Helena working as a claims adjuster for Blue Cross/Blue Shield of New York. After returning home from work, they would fill the home with music ... Motown, Doo Wop, R&B hits, Patti LaBelle and Colonel Abrams were Helena’s favorites.

A QVC connoisseur, Helena loved watching and evaluating the products on the channel. If it struck her fancy, she would order the item and look forward with great anticipation to its delivery! Her home was filled with gadgets, clothes and kitchen aids from QVC. Helena and Johnnie both loved to cook and would make some of their favorite dishes: lasagna, potato salad, salmon, and broccoli. You could get delicious and healthy, balanced meals at the Joyner home! After a family gathering was over, Helena, known by her children to be a clean freak, would leave the kitchen spotless. Her children would say she could spot a speck of dirt from across the room.

Caring, compassionate and patient, Helena was known for her caregiving nature. She would offer practical help to anyone she deemed in need. When living in Brooklyn, she befriended an elderly couple living downstairs. She shopped, cooked and cared for their personal needs. Helena took care of her older sisters Ruth Ann and Vivian until their passing. When her parents felt the effects of a ge, she had a home built for her family with a parent’s suite. Sadly both passed away before they could occupy the suite. Her caring nature extended to animals too. When Michael brought home a ferret that was not being properly cared for, Helena researched what ferrets needed to thrive and made sure the ferret lived a good life in her home!

Helena supported her daughter-in-law, Maribel Joyner, to raise her granddaughter Tiffany when Helena’s son Michael died unexpectedly. Tiffany and Helena had a special bond that brought Helena great joy. In the 90’s, Johnnie was assaulted in Brooklyn and was left with permanent neurological issues. He was forced to give up his business, and when he broke his hip years later, he was confined to a wheelchair. Helena cared for him for 27 years, until he died in 2020. Years after his passing, Helena still experienced deep grief from the loss. Johnnie, with the reputation of being the “life of the party” was the “life of her party”.

Helena is predeceased her husband Johnnie; her siblings, Ruth Ann, Vivian, Donald and Mark; and her two sons, Lewis and Michael. She leaves to cherish her memory her two children, Tony and Johnny, her brothers Lewis, Freddy, Jake and Ronald; her daughter-in-laws Dianne Christina Dyer, Maribel Joyner and Marcie Ball; her granddaughter Tiffany Joyner; Paulette Jean-Baptiste; many nieces and nephews and a host of other family members.

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