Bipeds of Brookland: Florence Preston

Bipeds of Brookland: Introducing the people who make Brookland their home one step at a time.

Florence Preston

When Florence Preston came to an open house in Brookland in 1969 she was a working mom with two kids. “I walked up with the real estate agent and said, ‘This is my house.’ And I’ve been there ever since.”

Florence likes living in Brookland near John Burroughs Elementary. “It is a real quiet area. I’m right across the street from the school. My kids went to that school so it was convenient, and there is the big playground”

After working over 25 years in the offices of several businesses in DC, she retired and began a new career. With both her kids grown, she and her second husband became ‘relief parents’ for foster children. “I did that for another 25 years. At the end, I had three kids with special needs in my home and I adopted all three at the same time. Two of them have deceased and one is graduating from college with a 4.0 and is now doing his Masters online.”

Last year, Florence began working part-time in the volunteer office at HSC Pediatric Center here in the neighborhood. She records the hours of volunteers and Foster Grandparents who “work with the kids and play games, and do group sessions and read to the kids.”  She also organizes the donated books which are made available for volunteers to read to the children, and helps to organize appreciation activities and holiday celebrations for the volunteers.

When asked to describe herself, Florence responded, “I’m just easygoing” and “I love the Lord.”

She was also happy to share that her fourth great-great-grandchild was born this month. 

Interviewed by Tom Sabella