At 91, Helen Woodyard becomes Georgia’s oldest person to earn a GED in a decade

 by Mildred EuropaTaylor

elen Woodyard, from Georgia, became the oldest person in the state to earn a GED in the last decade. She graduated from West Georgia Technical College on July 29 after completing her coursework the week she turned 91, according to the school.

“One of the ceremony’s most memorable moments came when 91-year-old Helen Woodyard crossed the stage to receive her GED, becoming the oldest person in Georgia in the past decade to earn the credential,” the school said in a press release cited by People.com.

Woodyard did not speak at the graduation ceremony last month; however, she discussed with school authorities her inspiration behind getting the degree.

“I never finished [school], so I always regretted not getting my diploma,” she said. “My 4 children finished so I always wanted to do what they did.”

“I kept going because I don’t quit anything that I start,” she continued. “The Lord started a work in me, and I was willing to spend all the time I had left before I died to finish.”

When Woodyard started classes, she was 88 and determined to make it. She ultimately gained her historic GED after 958.75 hours of learning.

People.com reported Friday that over 30 members of Woodyard’s family were at the graduation ceremony, excited to see her walk the stage and become the third of her 10 siblings to earn a high school diploma, according to the school.

“They were happy; they were so proud of me,” she told NBC affiliate WXIA-TV.

Reflecting on her academic experience, she shared that although she “really loved” math, geometry was “the hardest” subject for her.

Her family has expressed immense pride in her accomplishment.

“We are so honored that Ms. Helen chose West Georgia Tech to fulfill her educational goal and incredibly proud of the hard work she put in to achieve this accomplishment,” WGTC’s president, Dr. Julie Post said in a statement. “She is a true testament to persistence and a shining example of lifelong learning!”