Happy 100th Birthday to Miss Helen Fairchild

By Mia Freneaux
    Helen Buckels Fairchild was feted this past Sunday by her family and friends on the occasion of her 100th birthday.  The event, held at American Farmhouse Restaurant, was crowned by the presentation of a proclamation of “Miss Helen Fairchild Day” by Mayor Junior Shelton.  Another party was held on Monday at Greenwell Springs Baptist Church.  “I was just overwhelmed by how many came out for me,” Miss Helen said.
    Miss Helen, who was born on July 27, 1915, moved out to Central in a house she built with her husband George (a native of Greenwell Springs) in 1949.  She remembers gravel roads, “ice boxes” (that’s a refrigerator that cools with a block of ice, kids), and doing the laundry in the kitchen sink with a washboard!  Growing up during the Great Depression made them very frugal; as Miss Helen shared, “A loaf of bread was only 10 cents, but you didn’t have 10 cents!”, so they carefully saved up the $5000 it took to build their house.  When their children Marion and Houston were born, they built an addition on the house, and that’s where Miss Helen has lived ever since.  
    Miss Helen was valedictorian of her high school class, and won a scholarship to LSU.  She went on to be a substitute teacher for many years.  To this day, former students come up to her and tell her how what she shared with them still stands them in good stead today.  This means so much to her.  
    A longtime member of Greenwell Springs Baptist Church, Miss Helen remembered how they used to meet on the lawn at what is now Dr. Dean’s office.  Then they migrated to the little green house nearby until the first church was built in 1953.  “Back then, everyone knew everybody.  We knew every car on the road, everyone at church.  Even down on 3rd Street (in Baton Rouge), we knew everyone.  We’d dress up to go shopping, and wear hats and gloves to church.  I still have a box of gloves!” Miss Helen laughed.  
    Asked about her proudest accomplishment, Miss Helen answered promptly, “My children and grandchildren! “  She is also proud of the latest member of the family, her year and a half old great grandchild!  Her best advice to upcoming generations: “Have faith and trust in the Lord.  If you don’t have the Lord in your life, you don’t have anything.  Trust Him to take care of you, and be yourself!  Don’t try to be somebody else!”  
    Happy Birthday Miss Helen!  And many, many happy returns.