Helen Drungo

Mother Helen Williams Drungo, 77, of Alderman Street, ( wife of the late Melvin Drungo Sr.), departed this life on Wednesday, May 6, 2020 at Baystate Medical Center.  Helen was a church Mother and member of the Helping Hands Committee at Daniels New Bethel COGIC.

  Born in Rayville, LA on November 5, 1942 to Charlie Williams and Bertha (Richards) Roberson, she grew up in Monroe and attended Booker T. Washington and Carroll Junior High. She worked at the Ramada Inn for many years before moving to Springfield, MA in 1965.  She was the first black woman to work the third shift at A.G. Spalding in Chicopee.  A beloved community leader, Helen was a founding member of Arise for Social Justice and was president of the John L. Sullivan Apartments tenants association on Nursery Street.  She worked for the Massachusetts Union of Public Housing Tenants before becoming disabled.  Helen will be remembered for her friendship and grace helping those in need. 

She is pre-deceased by her siblings Aaron Roberson Sr., Charlie Williams Jr, Walter Williams, Edward Williams and Willie Williams; Bessie Dickson, Ollie Collins, Rosie B. Mitchell, Geneva Little, Katie Phillips, Ruth Rivers, Emma Hayes and Essie Dorsey and is survived by her brother Albert Williams Sr. (Margaret); sister Emma Jones Felton; sister-in-law Carrie Roberson; the father of her children Edward Lee Cage, Sr., her sons, Melvin Drungo, Jr. (Shirley), Danny Drungo, John Drungo and Edward Lee Cage Jr. (Vira); her daughters, Deborah Williams Ervin, Sheila Drungo, Carol Joyner (Judge) and Helen Dyer (Elder Anthony Dyer Sr.); 25 grandchildren, and 31 great-grandchildren in addition to other family members and friends who loved her. 

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