Submitted by Vivian Edersheim

The Friends of the Raymond Theatre will honor two longtime Raymond residents and theater supporters in a benefit concert on Sunday, Aug. 6. The event will feature David Deacon-Joyner at the keyboard, playing selections made by Beryl Adams and Helen Campbell, the theater’s “esteemed friends.”

Adams will attend the concert. Campbell passed away July 7, just a month and two days shy of her 100th birthday. She and Campbell each selected a variety of pieces earlier this year for the program.

Deacon-Joyner is a music professor at Pacific Lutheran University. He was a pianist with Greta Matassa in a Sunday Afternoon Live concert last January.

The performance will begin at 2 p.m., with a suggested donation of $12 per person. The theater is located at 323 Third St. in Raymond.

Beryl Adams

Beryl was raised in Wichita, Kansas. She served in the military in England, France and Belgium during World War II, and later worked in Washington, D.C., and Spokane. She and her late husband, Russ Adams, began their married life in Raymond in 1952. With two children, Jim and Janet, they were active parents and citizens in school, church and town activities.

Volunteering for 32 years in the sixth-grade classroom at Raymond Elementary gave her regular contact with young people. In addition, offering singing and poetry reading twice each week for more than 30 years at the nursing home provided the chance for her to brighten the day for those who were isolated from the community. When Beryl was asked to join the board of Sunday Afternoon Live, she was pleased to join a group of committed people who wanted to use the Raymond Theatre to provide interesting programs for everyone.

She enjoys the contributions of those on the board and the interactions involved. The theater is an anchor of Raymond’s thriving downtown, and helping to ensure the area values the arts and its people remains a satisfying experience for Beryl.

Helen Campbell

Helen was born Aug. 9, 1917, in South Bend. With the exception of her first two years, when her family moved to Oregon, she resided in Raymond all of her life. She attended the grand opening of the Raymond Theatre in 1928 with her friend Elaine Brown Alexander. She recalled being thrilled watching Al Jolson in “The Jazz Singer,” a movie well worth the 10-cent price of admission.

Helen graduated from Raymond High School in 1934 and married Glenn Campbell two years later. She wore many hats: Cub Scout leader, PTA volunteer, baker of cakes and cookies for school and church bake sales, seamstress for special occasion outfits, hostess for holiday gatherings.

For many years, she was a Grey Lady at Willapa Harbor Health Care Center and a valued volunteer at the Pennywise Thrift Shop. Sponsoring and attending Sunday Afternoon Live performances at the historic Raymond Theatre were special to her.

Helen passed away peacefully at her home on July 7. Although she will not be at the concert in person, she will be there in spirit.

Helen Campbell