About Mary Helen's Thomas Jackson

The youngest of five children born to the late P. Floyd and Helen C. Thomas, Mary Helen attended Huntington High School in Newport news, Graduated from Hampton Institute and received her Master degree in Social Work from Atlanta University at the age of twenty-one. Throughout her life she has been influenced by her parents wisdom and philosophy.

Mary Helen began her career in Los Angeles where she worked in various clinical and administration positions primary at Central City Community Mental Health Center . The Center was distinguished as the first Black directed community mental health center to become funded by the National Institute of Mental Health. Working at the center brought many personal and professional rewards and satisfaction to Mary Helen, which included television appearances documenting its services. During her stay in Los Angeles, Mary Helen held membership or a licensed in the National Association of Social Workers; Academy of Certified Social Workers; Licensed Clinical Social Workers; Society for Hospital Social Work Directors; Outstanding Young Women of America; National Associated Female Executives: National Association of Black Social Workers; and was appointed by State Assemblywomen Gwen Moore to the Board of Directors of Project Heavy West.

After the death of her father, Mary Helen returned to Hampton to assist her mother with the family businesses of real estate development and investment. Then in 2003 Mary Helen realized her dream and open Mary Helen's Southern & Creole Cuisine. Mary Helen’s Restaurant features southern and Creole cuisine, including favorites such as gumbo, jambalaya, and red beans with sausage on white rice. The restaurant is centrally located in Downtown Hampton in a small shopping plaza at 87 Lincoln Street, Hampton, Va..