Don Helms, "Drifting Cowboy," played steel guitar for Hank Williams, Sr.
The Helms family not only introduced many brave men to the service of our country, but produced many noted politicians and presidents, and even some multi-talented musicians. Bobby Helms is a distant cousin, and then there is the "steel guitar legend" hailed from our Helms line of kin from Southern Alabama, Don Helms. Don descended from the Tilman Helms line.
Don was the first steel guitar player for Hank Williams, Sr. and a member of Hank's legendary Drifting Cowboys. " Your Cheatin' Heart," Cold, Cold, Heart," are just a couple of the songs that highlight the magic of that Helms steel guitar.
I don't know if Elvis knew about his other famous relatives. I believe he would have been amazed. Bernice Turner, a truly wonderful, gifted lady of Memphis who replaced Don Helms as Williams' steel guitarist when Helms was called to the service of his country, not only remembered Don with affection, but she also remembered Elvis with much admiration.
Kin of Rock and Roll founder, Barbara Lee, got to meet and talk with Bernice at Marlowe's Barbeque in Memphis in 2007. Bernice was not only a devout fan of Elvis, and knew him, but also had quite a collection of Elvis' personal furnishings which she, regretfully, had to sell. Bernice had mentioned to Barbara Lee how lucky she {Bernice} was to be alive after her near fatal bus collision. Bernice had God foremost on her mind, thanking Him everyday for her life. Sadly, Bernice Turner passed away August 20, 2013. Sadly, Don Helms passed away in August of 2008. He was 81 years young.
Some have discounted Sen. Jesse Helms kinship to Elvis. The late Sen. Jesse Alexander Helms was, indeed, a cousin of Elvis as is Jimmy Carter, 9th President William Henry Harrison, President James K. Polk, and even President Abraham Lincoln.
Elvis' Aunt Lillian Smith Mann Fortenberry
"Take care of my boy." Gladys Love Smith Presley's request to her sister, Lillian. According to family members, Gladys had a strong premonition that she would not live to see her son come home from the service. She had not been well for a good while before her passing, and her oldest sister, Lillian, came to Graceland to care for Gladys while Vernon was in Germany with Elvis.
After Glady's passing, Lillian looked after Elvis for awhile, complying with the request of her younger sister. Elvis remained close for a time to his Aunt Lillian, a very religious woman and member of the Shawnee tribe out of Oklahoma. Lillian Smith Mann's second husband was, James Thomas (Isaac) Fortenberry, a kin cousin descended from the family of Isaac Fortenberry/Faulkenberry. (Mary Margaret Fortenberry/George Helms) James predeceased Lillian who died in 1990. The Fortenberrys originally spelled their name Faukenberg, which is how James Thomas spelled it on his first marriage certificate. The Fortenberrys go back to NC with the Presleys, Helms and other allied families, however, they probably were not on speaking terms with the Presleys, Hoods, and Helms for a time during the American Revolution because Henry, Isaac and Jacob Faulkenburg chose to remain loyal to the crown and, thus, left NC for SC. It was at that
time that the original spelling of the name was changed to Fortenberry. From SC the family spread to TN, AL and finally to MS. James Thomas and Lillian are buried in Forest Hills Cemetery in Memphis where there is a large monument erected to him there.
John Helms, a Tennessee artist, knew Elvis' and his mom and dad from when his (Helms) father owned a store not far from Graceland.® He remembered Gladys as a sweet, Christian woman. Helms was very good friends with Billy Mann, his hair stylist, and a cousin of Elvis. Mann passed away in a truck accident some time after he had taken the last photo of Elvis (in his coffin) and, despite the families request for privacy, had sold the photo to the National Enquirer for $10,000
