Helen Cooper Preston was born on September 24, 1923, in Swainsboro, Georgia, and recently reached an incredible milestone, celebrating her 101st birthday on September 24, 2024. She currently resides at the Spanish Oaks Retreat Memory Care Unit in Savannah, Georgia, where she is close to her son James and his wife Connie.
Helen lived a very interesting and intriguing life. She feels like she's only 85 and attributes her longevity to staying extremely active. A graduate of Swainsboro High School, she married Thomas W. Preston in 1944. They had three sons: Thomas W. Preston Jr. (deceased) who married Diana, James Preston who married Connie, and Prince Preston III. She is grandmother to Amy and Lane and great-grandmother to Samantha and Emma.
One of her occupations along the way was serving as Chief Voter Registrar for Bulloch County, highlighting her dedication to civic duty.
“Mom enjoyed gardening, cooking for her family, First Baptist Church Statesboro, her sewing club, ‘Stitch and Chatter’, which was maybe more chatter than stitch,” smiled son James. "She loved fishing (and had a pond in her yard stocked with bass) and traveling with her sister Lucille Moxley of Swainsboro."
Helen's most interesting memories were the places she and her husband lived during his career with the Marine Corps: Rio de Janeiro, Miami, Oceanside and Washington, DC. In 1994, she and her sister Lucille flew from Savannah to Mexico City on a privately owned Gulfstream jet to visit her son James and Connie, who resided there at the time.
Helen celebrated two birthdays in her 90s with all her family on Tybee Island beach weekends.
Fun facts James added, “Mom lived an active life until 99, driving and mowing her lawn on her riding lawn mower until 98. She enjoyed frying chicken when her family would gather for visits. Everyone loved her ‘special batter,’ which gave the chicken a delicious crust. She always made biscuits and pecan pie for these meals.”
Purple is definitely her favorite color, she is a huge Atlanta Braves fan, and she has a sweet tooth for caramel cake, pecan pie, cobblers, and most of all ICE CREAM! Her longtime special companion was the family pet dog, Tinsy, a tiny Rat Terrier.
Today, Helen Cooper Preston at 101½ years young, we celebrate you! May your birthday wish to work and play in your yard, followed by plenty of ice cream and caramel cake be granted, and may you continue to be an inspiration to many! Happy Belated Birthday!
