Helen Cook Celebrates 100 YEARS In Style

Helen Cook Celebrates 100 YEARS In Style

By Tracie Dillon

On Saturday, June 29, Helen Cook of Lincoln, Virginia, turned 100 years old.  Helen recently got her driver’s license renewed and continues to push mow her one-acre lawn herself. She was honored at a huge community party attended by more than 200 guests to help her celebrate this milestone.

The party took place on Saturday, June 24 at the Lincoln Elementary School.   When Lincoln School was in a small building further down in the village where Breakthrough Ministries is now located, she would begin making food for the students on the farm, then walk her homemade bread and meals three miles to the school where all the other items served were homemade from scratch.

Later, she took a few-year break to raise her family (Eddie Cook, Betty Jo Martin, and Tracie Dillon).  She then returned to the current Lincoln Elementary School site and remained the Cafeteria Manager for over 50 years before retiring.

Mrs. Cook was presented an antique rolling pin she had used in her earlier years at Lincoln by school principal Dave Michener on behalf of students, staff, and parents present and past, many of them at the party.  She was presented beautiful, personally written letters from Virginia State Senator Jill Vogel and Governor Glenn Youngkin.

Mayor Kenneth Wine, on behalf of the Town of Hamilton, presented a proclamation declaring June 29, 2023 “Helen Cook Day” in the town of Hamilton. At the party, which included families of threegenerations of individuals she had served over the years, everyone joined in singing Happy Birthday. The event was covered by Channel 4 reporter Julie Carey and featured on the station’s news shows.

Mrs. Cook said her motto at Lincoln was always, “Service to Others.” That’s exactly the example she bestows to all who know her.  She is truly “100 Years Loved.”