Senator Jesse Helms died July 4th 2008 here in Raleigh.  His funeral was held in Raleigh at Hayes Barton Baptist Church in Five Points.  Helms served the Senate for 30 years from 1973 to 2003 when he decided not to run for reelection. Prior to running for office, Helms was a student a Wake Forest University in 1941, but did not finish college. He was in the Navy during World War II. Helms entered the political arena in 1957 when he joined the Raleigh City Counsel and then went on to share his views as an editorialist for WRAL and through his column carried in nearly 200 newspapers and then on to Washington DC.
Regardless of how you feel about Jesse Helms, we all have to acknowledge he was a leading force in many political changes in North Carolina and throughout the nation.  Helms had many views that seemed "old fashion" to many, yet right on target to others, but the fact is almost all of us know his name and his views. Helms and his wife, Dorothy, had two daughters and a son.  Helms always had a heart for children and he and his wife adopted their son in 1962 after the child, 9 years old and suffering from cerebral palsy, said in a newspaper article that he “wanted parents.” 
It is very interesting that Helms would die on July 4th.  "It's just incredible that he would die on July 4, the same day of the Declaration of Independence and the same day that Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died." said former North Carolina GOP Rep. Bill Cobey. 
Helms' funeral brought many big name politicians to the Raleigh area.  Elizabeth Dole, who took Helms' seat in the Senate in 2003 was in attendance.  Vice President Dick Cheney, and Cindy McCain, wife of presumed Republican candidate John McCain also came to visit the Triangle to pay their respects.