Helping Heal Birds at 101 Years Old

Helping Heal Birds at 101 Years Old

Mrs. Helen Heath, is such an inspiration. At 101 years old she still puts in 40 hours a week of work at the Seacoast Seabird Sanctuary in Indian Shores, Florida. She is the mother of the founder, Ralph Heath, Jr., and she loves her birds.

Mrs. Heath was born in 1909 in Macon, Georgia. Her parents taught her and her siblings the value of being caring and respectful to others, life values that would bring her to pursue teaching as her career.

She graduated in 1928 from Georgia State College for Women (now called Georgia College and State University) with a degree in Teaching in Elementary Education. Six years later, she would marry Dr. Ralph Heath, Sr. and, 11 years after that; she would bear a son, Ralph.

She would instill her values of caring and respecting life on Ralph as he grew up. He began to rescue and help animals in need, bringing them to her home. Years later, she pitched the idea to Ralph, Jr. that their home could be a sanctuary for injured wildlife. Her excellent skills in dealing with people and organizing funds helped give the sanctuary the push it needed to flourish.

To this day, at 101 years old, Mrs. Helen Heath is still a vital aspect to the sanctuary and its environment. She works 40 hours a week processing paperwork and keeping files organized and up to date. She also makes sure to check on every member of the sanctuary family that walks in the door, greeting them with a hello and making sure they are happy. At the end of the day, she leaves the office and walks up a flight of stairs to her home—yes, after all this time Mrs. Heath has kept her home dedicated to the birds! She has never given up on the mission to rescue and rehabilitate sick and injured wildlife, and according to her, she never will.

At 101 years old, Mrs. Heath is truly an inspiration. Watch our video with her below:

Check out their website, make a donation, and make sure to visit them when you are in the Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL area.