Lena Mae Short

Mrs. Lena Mae Short born April 12, 1923 departed this life on Tuesday, August 29, 2017 at the Richmond Compassionate Care Center, Richmond, Ky.  She was 94 years old.  Lena Mae was born at Saylor, Ky., the daughter of the late Sam Caldwell & Betty Saylor Caldwell. Lena Mae graduated high school from the Red Bird Mission at Beverly, KY. She graduated college from Cumberland College in Williamsburg, KY. Lena Mae had a very distinguished career in the field of education.  She was a retired teacher after 36 years of service with the Leslie & Harlan County Board of Education.  Lena Mae was very active in the Middlefork community.  She was the "Matriarch" of Middlefork. This was exemplified by her Christian lifestyle and consistent faith.  Lena was a devoted member of the Middlefork United Methodist Church at Helton, Ky.  She was a charter member, served as  Sunday School Supt. & teacher, church treasurer & lay delegate to the annual Red Bird Conference. Lena Mae was the overseer of the Honey Branch Cemetery, Helton, Ky.  She tried to purchase monuments for all unmarked graves through fund-raising or her own personal finances.  Lena Mae and her nephew, Joe Edward Caldwell were instrumental in the purchase and erection of the Veterans Monument at the Honey Branch Cemetery spending numerous hours funding raising & researching information for inscription on the monument.   Mrs. Lena Mae Short was preceded in death by her loving and devoted husband, Rufus Short, parents; Sam & Betty Saylor Caldwell, grandchildren; Patrick, Rhonda, Lena & Zola Howard, Angelita Myrick, brothers; Zack, David & Richard Caldwell, sisters; Mary Helton, Ida Caldwell, Cordelia Short, Eva Maggard, sons-in-law, Morris Howard, Eugene Brock, & Owen Howard, Jr.  Mrs. Lena Mae Short leaves the following relatives surviving; beloved sons;  Rev. Jack Short & wife, Lora of Beattyville, Ky., Robert Short & wife, Jackie, of Helton, Ky., beloved daughters; Betty Howard of Stoney Fork, Ky., Marilyn Howard & husband, Michael of Helton, Ky.,  Regina Brock of Helton, Ky., Sharlene Gross & husband, Rev. Robert Gross of Helton, Ky.,  two brothers; John D. Caldwell and wife, Mary of Bledsoe, Ky., Garreth R. Caldwell & wife, Chaney of Columbia, Ky., two sisters; Bernice Caldwell of Stinnett, Ky., Betty Masters & Rev. Clayton Masters of London, Ky., thirteen treasured grandchildren; Rod Howard, Vincent Howard, Angie Napier, Charlotte Crawford, Eugenia Watts, Crystal Nolan, Robert Short, Bettina Campbell, Keisha Short, Cody McQueen, David Short, Reagan Weedman, John Houser, twenty treasured great, grandchildren, six treasured great, great, grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins other relatives and friends.



TIME AND PLACE OF FUNERAL:
 3:00 p.m. - Sunday- September 3, 2017 at the Middlefork United Methodist Church, Helton, Ky

OFFICIATING MINISTERS:
 Rev. Jamie Brunk, Rev. Robert Gross, Rev. Robert Baker & Rev. Rodney Watts

TIME AND PLACE OF VISITATION:
 5:00 - 9:00 p.m. - Saturday - September 2, 2017  at the Middlefork United Methodist Church Helton, until the funeral hour at 3:00 p.m. Sunday - September 3, 2017 at the church

PLACE OF INTERMENT: Honey Branch Cemetery, Helton, Ky.