Hellen Hendley PerMar, formerly known as Hellen Rogers, passed away August 12, 2017. She was 88 years old. Hellen was born to Walter Fisher Hendley and Margaret Carroll Hendley on November 12, 1928 in Albemarle, N.C. and grew up in West Columbia, She and her brother, Graham, performed on the stage as children as their father, Fisher Hendley of the Aristocratic Pigs, was an entertainer. After graduating from the University of S.C., Hellen moved to Apopka in 1950 to teach chorus at Apopka Memorial High School. She made Apopka her home for the rest of her life. She married and had three daughters, Valerie, Carol, and Faye. She taught voice and piano to many students and sang in churches and numerous weddings. Soon after, she received her masters where she continued to teach music, Humanities, AP Music Theory, and English in Orange County schools. After retiring, Hellen studied and became a Master Gardener for the Cooperative Agriculture Extension Service for FL. Hellen was the music director at the Methodist church in Apopka. In her early years, she was active in the Sunday School and Bible School programs, and began the Tiny Tots preschool program at the church. She also directed musical productions for the Apopka Foliage Review for many years. Hellen leaves behind three daughters, Valerie Summers, Carol Singh, and Faye Rogers, four grandchildren, Michelle Hipps-Kalkan, Rob Hipps, Simran Singh, and Kiran Singh, and four greatgrandchildren for which she was known as GiGi. She is remembered for sharing her many talents, giving to others, and having a great impact on the lives of her many students.
"Since music education was her life's passion, In lieu of flowers, friends can donate to Keep Music Alive to the National Association for Music Education – nafme.org. Thank you." Sincerely, Valerie Summers