Alyssa Brooke Helms

Alyssa Brooke Helms, a beacon of light and laughter, left the stage of life far too early on July 2, 2024, at the young age of 24. Born on December 2, 1999, in Monroe, North Carolina, Alyssa's life was a vibrant dance to the music of joy, with each step taken in selfless devotion to those she loved and the causes she held dear.

Alyssa's journey took her from the halls of Stratford High School to the bustling world of rescue at Low Country Dog Magazine, where she reigned supreme as a media manager. There, she combined her love for storytelling and her passion for pooches, creating many inspiring tales that captured the hearts of readers and the spirit of the community, encouraging many adoptions, as well as our very own canine correspondent, Lovey! 

Alyssa's interests were as spontaneous as her sense of humor. She could belt out a tune like a Broadway star, moves that would make a professional dancer jealous, and foster dogs with the tenderness of a saint. She was a makeup maestro, a beach bum at heart, a sister beyond compare, and a plant whisperer (or at least she thought so).

Described by those who knew her best as one of the most selfless, kindest, and bravest people they've ever encountered. Alyssa was the kind of person who would give you the shirt off her back and then make a joke about how it looked better on you anyway. Her spirit was a light that shone brightly in the lives of all who knew her, including her beloved family. While the curtain may have fallen too soon for Alyssa, she is survived by a cast of characters who will ensure her story lives on: her older sister Cassandra, her kid sister Savannah, her Nana Nancy Helms, her father Michael, and a troupe of cousins, friends, and extended family who were her fellow performers in the grand production of her life. She was greeted at the pearly gates with a warm embrace by her recently departed mother, Dawn James Helms, and both of her grandfathers, David Robert James and Wiley Kenneth Helms. 

Alyssa's legacy is not just in the laughter she left behind but in the courage she showed each day. She faced challenges with a grin, tackled obstacles with a joke, and approached life with the kind of gusto that reminded us all to take our cues from the comedy of the everyday.

In her honor, let's all take a page from Alyssa's script and live a little bolder, laugh a little louder, and love a little stronger. She would want us to find the humor in our heartaches and the punchline in our pain, reminding us that life, after all, is the ultimate comedy.

As we say our final goodbyes to Alyssa Brooke Helms, let's do so with the confidence and merriment she so cherished. We know she's got the angels doubling over in laughter, and we can almost hear her voice, carried on the wind, urging us to be happy and keep the stories alive.

So here's to Alyssa's life beautifully lived, a song joyously sung, and a dance wonderfully danced. May the echoes of her laugh be a comfort to us all. And in the words of another funny fellow, Mark Twain, "The human race has one really effective weapon, and that is laughter." Alyssa wielded it expertly, and for that, we are eternally grateful. Curtain call, Alyssa. You've earned your standing ovation.