Our Mission
Centenarians of Oklahoma is a 501(c)(3) non-profit volunteer organization whose sole purpose is to honor citizens of Oklahoma who are 100 years of age or older.
This 20-minute video has personal stories from Centenarians and their Family members, Volunteers with the Centenarians of Oklahoma and Dr. Alex Bishop, Oklahoma State University, Professor of Adulthood and Aging. You will enjoy watching it!
Our Team
Front Row: Connie, Ann, Peggy, Nancy and Terri. Back Row: Joy, Leah, Lori, Sue, June and Robin. Not Shown: Sharon, Lynne, Liz, Nita and Annette.
Our Story
Every business has a beginning, and ours was founded in 1991, in Oklahoma City as Centenarian Club of Oklahoma, Inc.
Centenarians of Oklahoma is incorporated and a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. The stated mission of the group has always been to recognize and honor Oklahomans as they reach 100 years of age and older. The Centenarian Club of Oklahoma, Inc. has operated under the name Centenarians of Oklahoma since late 2014.
In its early years, the organization operated under the auspices of a Board of Directors, received some grants from various sources, and compensated executive directors and volunteers who helped with the work. Two of the principals were Richard Amend and Mary Lou Bates.
The Oklahoma City area was where the group focused in the beginning. As the organization grew, Tulsa volunteers took over the responsibility of honoring centenarians in the eastern part of the state.
Time passed, and the OKC group lost funding at the time when privacy laws became more stringent. OKC dropped off and Richard Ziglar and volunteers in the Tulsa area continued to honor those they could locate.
About 2014, Gloria Helmuth began serving with Richard Ziglar and volunteers in Tulsa; in late 2015 and early 2016 Sue Scott, Dorothy Griffin, Carole Minter joined the team. We welcomed Peggy Barnett and Connie Connely in 2018, Terri Callaway, Nancy Williams and Ann Attig in 2020, Shirley Brown and Leah Mathews in 2022, Ellen Morehart, Joy Farnsworth and Lori Collins in 2023, June Roach and Robin O’Hara in 2024 and Sharon Bickle, Lynne Moss, Liz Williams, Nita Turner and Annette Bowles in 2025. The inductee count went up with these additional people. Using their skills, we find, honor and remember our most senior individuals in the State of Oklahoma. All who work with the program are volunteers.
Contact us if you would like to be a volunteer ! Call 918-236-0148.
Meet the Team
These great ladies are the board members, researchers, presenters and heart of this organization. They volunteer their time and resources to honor Oklahoma’s Centenarians.
Sue Scott
Board Chair
From the insurance world, Sue is a willing volunteer that brings invaluable business experience to the group.
Connie Connely
Vice Chair
Retired from teaching special education for 39 years, Connie joined our team in 2018. She maintains the record keeping files about Centenarians.
Terri Callaway
Treasurer and Recording Secretary
Retired accountant, Terri is excited about celebrating birthdays with Centenarians.
Peggy Barnett
Board Member
With claims research experience at Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, Peggy is a welcome asset to our team where she does research, publicity and is in charge of archives.
Nancy Williams
Board Member
Retired Mid-Del teacher and CDR in the USNR, Nancy loves to volunteer with the Centenarians. She considers it an honor to meet those who have “lived the history of the state” and to honor many from military service as the Greatest Generation. Nancy’s mother was honored as a Centenarian of Oklahoma in 2020.
Ann Attig
Board Member
Retired librarian enjoys hearing centenarian life stories, their words of wisdom and reasons for their longevity. Ann honors centenarians at events in the Oklahoma City area.
Lori Collins
Board Member
Lori has lived in the Tulsa area her entire life. She recently retired from the field of accounting and is looking forward to volunteering with the Centenarians of Oklahoma. Honoring our older generation is a privilege.
Joy Farnsworth
Board Member
Joy recently retired from the Industrial Sales field. She is interested in working with the Centenarians of Oklahoma and celebrating their contributions to others.
June Roach
Board Member
June is a retired Human Resources professional and looks forward to celebrating these birthday milestones of the greatest generation.
Robin O’Hara
Board Member
Robin respects and admires the wisdom of older generations and she enjoys learning from their stories and experiences.
Sharon Bickle
Board Member
Sharon retired from the decorative fabric business. She enjoys being a volunteer with the Centenarians of Oklahoma. Hearing the stories from our honorees are inspiring.
Lynne Moss
Board Member
Lynne retired after working 38 years with the State of Oklahoma in the environmental field. She enjoys traveling, spending time with family and cheering on OSU sports.
Liz Williams
Board Member
Liz delivers for Meals on Wheels and is a volunteer in her church. She enjoys dancing, exercising, organizing and working with Seniors.
Nita Turner
Board Member
Nita loves to sing and is involved in Children’s Ministry at her church. She has fostered ten children and adopted five of them.
Annette Bowles
Board Member
Annette is a retired community leader with deep roots in Jenks and Tulsa. She is the past President of the Jenks Chamber of Commerce, former Small Business Chair for the Tulsa Regional Chamber and previously served as Director for Sapulpa Main Street through the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. Annette is the co-founder of the Jenks America Museum & Historical Society and volunteers as a Day Captain at the Oklahoma Aquarium. Annette has a Centenarian in her family as her mother turned 100 in August 2025.
Former Volunteers:
Gloria Helmuth
Gloria is the retired Director of our organization.
Carole Minter
Carole is a former volunteer of our organization.
Ellen Morehart
Ellen is a former volunteer of our organization.
Leah Mathews
Board Member
Leah is a former volunteer of our organization.
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Our continued success is made possible with the support of our donors…
The work performed through the Centenarians of Oklahoma could not happen without generous supporters like you. Thank you for your continued support.