Franci Helm Moorman

Reverend Dr. Franci Helm Moorman

Dr. Franci Helm Moorman departed this life to life everlasting on Thursday, September 24, 2026. She was born on July 28, 1932 in Ferrum, Virginia to the Reverend Herbert G. Helm and Willie Bond Helm who preceded her in death. 

Although Dr. Franci was in her fifties when she received a call from God, she received the Lord at age seven and joined Rock Ridge Missionary Baptist Church in Ferrum, Virginia. Upon relocating to Michigan, she joined St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church in Ann Arbor, Michigan and was a member there for over 20 years. She later joined Community Church of God in Ypsilanti, Michigan where she subsequently became an Associate Pastor. For six of her last eight years, she served as the Pastor of the church of her first affiliation, Rock Ridge Missionary Baptist Church, completing a full circle. She dearly loved the Lord until the very end of her life.

Dr. Franci graduated from Franklin County Training School and subsequently completed her degree in education from Virginia State College (currently Virginia State University). Over the years, she earned her Master’s degree from Eastern Michigan University, and her Doctorate from the University of Michigan.

After graduating from Virginia State College, she married the love of her life, the late Namon L. Moorman. This union was blessed by two sons, Naaman and Gerard. Dr. Franci was a third-generation educator. During her career, she taught in a one-room schoolhouse with first through sixth grade students in Franklin County, Virginia. Once she moved to Michigan, she worked in the Willow Run Public School District in Willow Run, Michigan and was an elementary school teacher and principal, and a director of special projects at the central office. After retiring from Willow Run Public Schools, Dr. Moorman became the Director of Student Services for Washtenaw County Community College in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her siblings and in-laws, Oliver and Ethel Helm of Rocky Mount, Virginia, Ora Burton of Columbus, Ohio, Rumsey and Viola Helm of Bassett, Virginia, Naomi and McKinley Berger of Rocky Mount, Virginia, and Golden Moorman (brother-in-law) of Ypsilanti, Michigan. 

Those left to mourn her passing and remember her life are her two sons, Naaman Helm Moorman of Rocky Mount, Virginia and Vernon Gerard Moorman of Detroit, Michigan; four grandchildren, Naaman (Brittany) Moorman of Brunswick, Ohio, Alexandria Moorman of Chicago, Illinois, Vernon Gerard Moorman, II of Brooklyn, New York, and Sheldon Moorman of Atlanta, Georgia; two sisters, Ruth H. Moorman of Ypsilanti, Michigan and Florella H. Johnson of Rocky Mount, Virginia; one sister-in-law, Christine Muse of Chicago, Illinois; and a host of nieces, nephews,other relatives and friends.