Helen Hester, 82, is an Alachua County crossing guard of nine years.
She doesn’t plan on retiring anytime soon.
Hester, widowed and with grandchildren scattered across the country, has created a family out of her career. “I could be their grandma,” she says as she safely guides the children across the street.
From passing out hugs and high-fives to pausing traffic for the morning commute, Hester is always a smiling face for the children of Alachua County.