Bennett Lyon Helms

Bennett Lyon Helms, P.E., 81, of Charleston, passed away Saturday December 31, 2011, at his home in the company of his loving family. Born in Wilson, North Carolina, he graduated from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering, performed graduate work at Carnegie Mellon, and completed the Strategic Planning Program at Harvard University. He was a veteran of the US Air Force, and later obtained an inactive Q security clearance (equivalent to a DOD Top Secret clearance). Bennett was very active in volunteer work for the community and served on fourteen different Boards of Directors in the position of Chairman or Committee Chairman. He was particularly fond of helping children of all ages, beginning as President of the Board of Trustees of the Spartanburg Day School and later, in Charleston, with the Student Desk Project and internships at the College of Charleston. He began his career as a System Design Engineer with the Process Division of Honeywell. He joined Lockwood Greene Engineers of Spartanburg, SC, as Process Control Department Head, and soon became Vice President of the company to lead International Business Development. He was instrumental in growing the firm from 125 architects and engineers to 2,500. Reflecting his life-long diversity of interests, he created his own consulting firm, BLH Consultants, led the expansion of the largest clam farm in the world, as well as a scallop farm in Chile and was appointed as the Head of the Technical Education Commission during Governor Dick Riley's administration. He subsequently co-founded EnviroMix, the most advanced wastewater mixing technology in today's market. Bennett was an avid tennis player and sailor. He is survived by his devoted wife Jean Yarborough Helms; daughter Jane Calvert Hopkins Helms; sons, James Hopkins Helms; Jay (Virginia), Jordan (Ann Bryan), & Tread (Britton) Josey; six grandsons & two granddaughters. He is predeceased by sister, Marjory Burnup Latham and brother, Dr. William Kendall Helms. A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday January 7, 2011 at 11 am at The Episcopal Church of the Advent, which is located at 141 Advent Street, Spartanburg, SC 29302. Contributions in his name can be made to the Spartanburg Day School located at 1701 Skylyn Drive, Spartanburg, SC 29307 or the South Carolina Aquarium located at 100 Aquarium Wharf, Charleston, SC 29401. The family will receive friends following the service at the Piedmont Club, located at 361 East Main Street, Spartanburg, SC 29302. Arrangements by J. HENRY STUHR, INC., DOWNTOWN CHAPEL. A memorial message may be written to the family by visiting our website at www.jhenrystuhr.com.