Helen Woodyard, earned her GED at 91 after returning to school at age 88

LaGrange, GA — Helen Woodyard, an African American grandmother from LaGrange, Georgia, earned her GED at 91 after returning to school at age 88. Her achievement made her the oldest person in Georgia to earn the credential in the past decade. She had always wanted to earn her diploma after watching all four of her children graduate. She enrolled in adult education classes at West Georgia Technical College on her 88th birthday and began working toward her goal.

According to 11Alive, she spent nearly three years in the program, completing 958.75 hours of classes. Math was one of her biggest challenges, and she also had to learn how to use a computer for the first time. Despite those difficulties, she stayed committed and finished her coursework.

More than 30 relatives attended her graduation and celebrated as she walked across the stage. Woodyard said her family was “happy” and “so proud” of her. She said she decided to pursue her GED after realizing that she had spent years helping everyone else and needed to do something for herself.

Rebecca Wheeler, dean of Adult Education at the college, said Woodyard shows that people can continue learning at any age. The school’s adult education program provides free services through Georgia’s technical college system, including support for adults working toward a high school equivalency credential.

Woodyard said she did not return to school to find a job. She simply wanted to accomplish a goal she had carried for years and refused to let her age stop her. “I didn’t care how old I was; I went to get it because that’s what I wanted,” she said.