Born June 2, 1905, at Hardinsburg, Ky., Mary Helen was the daughter of John and Martha Basham Brown, one of eight children. She received her early education at St. Romuald School in her hometown. When she was 21 years of age, Mary Helen entered the novitiate at Mount Saint Joseph. On March 19, 1927, Mary Helen received the Ursuline habit and the name Sister James Martin.
Sister James Martin was first prepared for the apostolate of domestic service and was assigned to this work for the first 10 years of mission life. She kept house in Kentucky at Lebanon (St. Charles), Rome, Mount Saint Joseph, St. Mary Home in Owensboro, Calvary, Central City, and Peonia. She also kept house in Wynot and Plattsmouth, Neb. In 1938, she began classroom teaching at Earlington, Ky., for one year. She was on sick leave during the 1939-1941 school terms. She was then missioned to teach middle grades in Kentucky at Waverly, Earlington (a second time), Louisville (St. Columba), Owensboro (St. Joseph), Shively, Raywick, St. Alphonsus, Leitchfield (St. Paul), St Alphonsus, Louisville (St. Columba), Knottsville, Mayfield, New Haven, Buechel, Owensboro ( Blessed Mother, off duty), Lyndon (housekeeper at St. Margaret Mary), Leitchfield (return to St. Paul), and Fairfield. She also taught in Affton, Mo.
In 1962, Sister James Martin returned to Mount Saint Joseph where she spent the remainder of her life in retirement. When changes in community regulations permitted, Sister James Martin reclaimed her baptismal name, Mary Helen.
In the early hours of the morning of November 15, 1984, Sister Mary Helen suffered a massive stroke and was taken to Mercy Hospital in Owensboro. She died late that night. The wake service was held three days later. On November 19, Father Bernard Barnes, chaplain, and Father Larry Dunham, OFM, concelebrated the funeral Mass. Sister Mary Helen’s remains are in the convent cemetery. Among her survivors was her sister, Sister Carmencita, a Pallottine Sister of Florissant, Mo.