SOROPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL of CERES says "Good-bye" to Mae Hensley at 100 years young! Mae Hensley, honorary member, will forever be remembered by club members and the Ceres community for her beautiful smile, kind, loving heart and her zest for life.

Mae stood up at club meetings and proudly announced, " I am the oldest person in this room." Obviously her slogan "One Day At A Time" served her well!

She was born Mae Ashford in 1903 in Indian Territory, near Bokchito, Oklahoma. She moved to Durant and boarded with a family while she attended high school and college. In 1922, at age 19, Mae graduated and began her teaching career. In 1925, she came to California to visit an Uncle and liked it so much, she stayed. After receiving her California teaching credential, she took a job teaching eighth grade in Ceres, California.

In 1926, Mae married John Hensley, a friend from Oklahoma. She continued teaching until her first child, Ann was born in 1936. Her second child, Clark was born the following year. Mae resumed teaching in 1939, and in 1947 was put in charge of attendance, visual aids and girls physical education. She loved telling humorous stories of her truant-chasing days, when she worked hard to keep children in school. She retired from school work in 1964 and immediately went into a different phase of education - assisting handicapped children in Stanislaus County.

Later in her life, Mae began to research her heritage, spending a great deal of time in libraries throughout the United States. She learned that her great grandfather had been Choctaw Chief Mushulatubbee, and had been responsible for signing over parts of the Choctaw Mississippi Territory to the United States government. Mae loved traveling, and had visited every continent, except Antarctica. She always said "Yes" and was ready for any new experience that life brought her way!

Mae was active in a variety of organizations, including Soroptimist International of Ceres, Smyrna Chapter of Eastern Star, Royal Order of Caritas, devoted to helping needy people, Salvation Army and Ceres Women's Club. She received many Civic awards including Ceres Citizen of the Year, Stanislaus County Woman of the Year, along with the Rotary's Honorary Paul Harris Fellow Award.

Mae truly made a difference in the lives of many! Soroptimist International of Ceres is currently developing a memorial garden at Mae Hensley Junior High School in Ceres.

What an honor to have known and worked with this very special lady!