Helen Crump

Helen Crump is a fictional dramatic character on the American television program The Andy Griffith Show (1960–1968). Helen was a schoolteacher and became main character Sheriff Andy Taylor's girlfriend, and eventually, wife. Helen first appears in the third-season episode "Andy Discovers America" (1963). She also appeared in spinoff program Mayberry R.F.D. (1968–1971), as well as the reunion telemovie, Return to Mayberry (1986). Helen was portrayed by Aneta Corsaut. Character biography Helen Crump is from Kansas where she attended college in Kansas City majoring in journalism. Helen takes up residence in Mayberry where she is employed as an elementary schoolteacher. Helen is first introduced in the third-season episode "Andy Discovers America". Opie and his classmates dislike their new teacher, referring to her as "old lady Crump". When Andy gives Opie advice about his own experience with school, Opie interprets this as not needing to do his history schoolwork. Helen confronts Andy at the courthouse and proceeds to tell him to stay out of her domain. Andy realizes what has happened and finds a way to get the boys excited about learning history. After a dramatic turnaround in the boys' approach to their history assignments, Helen is astonished to learn that Andy played a role in the sudden change. She thanks him and the two become friends. At the end of the episode, Andy shows his attraction to Helen by offering to walk her home. Helen is actually a terrible cook, which initially causes Barney to think she is a poor match for Andy.