At 100, Atlanta’s Barbara Haig still drives her white Ford Mustang; she says caution, not age, will determine how long she stays behind the wheel
At an age when many people are content to slow down, Barbara Haig is still putting the top down and heading out in her white Ford Mustang. According to a news report by 11alive website, Haig turned 100 on August 28, but the milestone has done little to change the rhythm of a life built around curiosity, faith, travel and independence. Just two weeks after reaching a century, she was still driving around her Atlanta community, teaching Sunday school and volunteering. For Haig, getting older has never meant giving up on the things that make life interesting.
A lifetime of seeing the world
Travel has been one of the defining threads of Haig’s life. For decades, she explored the United States and the world with a close friend she met through church. Together, they visited all 50 states, all seven continents and more than 75 countries. Their adventures took them from the fjords of Norway to China and Russia, destinations that offered experiences far removed from what they knew at home. She also traveled to Cambodia, where she rode an elephant, and visited the Holy Land.Her friend died about two decades ago, but Haig did not stop traveling. The desire to see new places continued long after she began making those journeys on her own.
She never stopped trying new things
Haig’s adventurous streak was not limited to airports and passports. She took up water skiing in her 60s and continued the sport well into her 90s, eventually stopping at 94 after her cardiologist advised her to give it up. A heart valve replacement has since become another chapter in a life that has included plenty of challenges without allowing them to define her. Today, she remains active in her church and community. Haig has been a member of Second Ponce de Leon Baptist Church since 1960 and continues to teach Sunday school. She also volunteers three days a week with Care for Caregivers, a respite-care ministry that helps families looking after loved ones.
Haig and the Mustang
Haig has been fond of convertibles for years. After giving them up for a period, seeing other drivers enjoying the spring weather with their tops down convinced her that she was ready for another one. The white Mustang became her latest companion on the road, states the news report. At 100, Haig remains conscious of the responsibilities that come with driving. She avoids getting behind the wheel at night, follows traffic rules and takes a cautious approach, even though she remains comfortable driving on interstate highways. Family members and friends also keep an eye on her, checking in regularly to make sure she is doing well. Her philosophy is straightforward: age alone does not have to determine when an activity ends. Judgment, caution and the ability to do something safely matter more.
One careful mile at a time
Haig does not appear interested in treating 100 as a finish line. Her life has been shaped by a willingness to explore, whether that meant skiing across a lake, traveling to the far corners of the world or simply climbing into a convertible for a drive around Atlanta. There is no elaborate formula behind her longevity. Instead, her approach seems rooted in staying curious, remaining useful and refusing to spend too much time worrying about circumstances she cannot control.At 100, Barbara Haig is still looking ahead. For now, that means another Sunday school lesson, another volunteer shift and another careful drive in her Mustang, with plenty of road still left to explore.
