Longtime Arlington resident Helen Krebs Maddox celebrated her 104th birthday on Friday surrounded by friends and family at the Arlington Woman's Club.
Maddox, wearing a red rose corsage on her wrist and a twinkling star necklace, smiled comfortably from her seat of honor as well-wishers brought her flowers, warm greetings and presents at the red, white and blue themed party.
Former Arlington Mayor Richard Greene was among many who spoke of Maddox and her contributions to Arlington over the decades.
"Everyone wants to know when we are asking a Centenarian ‘How did they live this long and how did they get to be 100?' You get answers like, ‘Well I didn't smoke,' ‘I didn't drink too much,' ‘I watched my weight,' ‘I followed my doctor's advice' or maybe ‘I just got lucky,'" Greene said.
"She provided perhaps the most unique answer that I've ever heard. She said, ‘I owe my longevity to the fact that I care about people. I care about all people. I keep helping people, I keep engaged with people and that's how I got to be 104 years old,'" Greene said. "Isn't that a great answer?"
Arlington Today recently shared a profile on Maddox, who's no stranger to being in the media spot light. Maddox made local and national news two years ago when she renewed her driver's license at age 102.
"Oh, yes. I still have my driver's license," she said in the article, "104 (and counting)." "I still can drive, but I haven't driven too much lately. I'm lucky that I always seem to have someone who steps up to volunteer to take me where I want to go."
Maddox was born on July 29, 1914, and then came to Arlington to live in 1956. Almost before she could completely settle in, the long-time city activist began working to change the city for the better by joining the Arlington Beautification Committee. Over the next three years, the venture was so successful that Maddox was invited to join Mayor Tom Vandergriff on a trip to Washington, D.C. to receive an award for implementing the nation's best beautification effort.
For the next six decades-plus, Maddox remained not just a noted civic leader, but a friend to literally thousands of people who appreciated her inspirational work ethic and keen wit.
Asked the key to her longevity, Maddox says the answer is simple: "I love people. That's the main thing. I've always been very interested in people. I still call people and send cards and keep in touch however I can. I believe everybody should help one another. God put us on earth to help people. Let's do it!"
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