Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 4C
October 22, 2014
A ~W "m Ihc Monroe County J
i Reporter
Monroe County celebrates
its greatest generation
BY DIANE
GLIDEWELL
news@mymcr.net
On Wednesday, Oct.
15, the Rubye James
Watts Building at the
Monroe County Senior
Center overflowed with
music, laughter, food
and folks
celebrating
the joy of
living long,
full lives.
For the
24th year,
the family
of the late
Rubye J.
Watts car
ried on the
tradition of
celebrating
Monroe
County citi
zens 60
years and
older, with
special emphasis on
those who have marked
at least 90 birthdays
before.
After inspirational
remarks by Charles
Dumas, Mamie Josey
opened the program by
leading the pledge of
allegiance and leading
everyone in singing "My
Country 'Tis of Thee."
Lois Glasco soon fol
lowed singing "We Are
Climbing Jacob's
Ladder," and Freida
White, director of the
senior center, comment
ed on how much talent
can be found among
those who regularly visit
the center and how for
tunate the center is to
have Josey, Glasco and
others share their voic
es.
Rev. Jamaar Pye
admitted that he is far
below the age require
ment for an invitation to
the party, but said he is
thankful every day for
the lessons he learned
from his grandparents
and for the opportunity
to pass on those lessons.
"Thank you for living
your lives in such a way
we have
stories to
share. You
are an
inspiration
to us all,"
said Pye.
"As time
has
changed,
things
really
haven't
changed at
all. The
sky is the
limit."
A
spokesper
son for each decade pro
vided entertainment,
Judy Sanchez for the
60's, Glossie Reeves for
the 70's, Helen
Pennington to the 80's
and Roberta Smith for
the 90's. Smith went
into performance mode
reciting Rose Mula's
poem, "The Stranger in
My House," and had
everyone laughing and
shaking their heads as
they identified with her
frustration over the old
lady who had suddenly
entered her home and
always seemed to step in
front of her when she
checked her appearance
in the mirror, seemed to
mess with her papers so
that nothing was in
order, alter her clothes
so they didn't fit, take
her money and food so
that she couldn't find
them, and even annoy
her by making the vacu
um heavier and jars
hard to open.
J.B. King called out
the list of names he had
for those 90 and above.
He had typed, on the
one typewriter he has
left, certificates for each
of the individuals thank
ing them for their excep
tional service over the
years. He has prepared
the certificates each
year since Rubye Watts
first asked him to 24
years ago. Those hon
ored were Elizabeth
Hart (102), Margaret
Niblett (102), Claiborn
Rhodes (99), Hattie
Driskell (98), Bessie
Turner (96), Sadie
Williams (95), Florence
Jones (94), Cora Bivens
(94), Annie Hansford
(94), Nadine Jackson
(93), Lath Tyson (93),
Roberta Smith (91),
Grover Tyner (91), and
two who had just made
the cut, Cora Davis (90)
and Willie B. White (90).
"The Lord has blessed
me to be 92," said
Fannie Moore. "I drove
myself here." She
responded to a comment
from the audience about
her driving speed with,
T try to stay in the traf
fic.’
"Share it honey," said
Cora Bivens. "I cook for
myself, and I was driv
ing until last year when
arthritis got bad."
"It's no secret I used to
be young," said Susan
Gibson, Rubye Watts'
daughter. "My mother
used to say we're all
recycled teenagers. Now
I'm 60 and it feels good."
Gibson radiated energy
as she sang a medley of
familiar songs. She unit
ed with other members
of her family to serenade
the group with "Happy
Birthday" and "It's Your
Birthday."
Rubye James Watts
started the annual 90-
100 birthday party in
1991. She was working
at the senior center and
was amazed at how
many Monroe County
citizens were over 90.
Watts took note of how
many long-lived resi
dents the Forsyth com
munity had and organ
ized a celebration of
them by having the 90-
100th birthday party at
Mary Persons.
Watts passed away on
May 17, 1995, but her
family members, espe
cially her daughters,
Lillian Hogan, Aretha
Neal, and Susan Gibson,
have kept the annual
birthday party going in
her memory for 24
years. Donations from
many groups and indi
viduals for the luncheon
meal, decorations, and
gifts for all of the partic
ipants 60 and above
make the annual event
possible.
Freida White said
2014 has been a chal
lenging year for the
Senior Center because it
lost four members. She
led a candle-lighting
service for Annie
Alexander, Minnie
Hampton, Willie Banks
and Catherine Nevels
and also mentioned
Minnie Wright, who had
not been able to attend
the center but was a
long-time respected
member of the commu
nity who passed away
this year at the age of
104.
Roberta Smith delivered
a lively message for
those in their 90’s.
Margaret Niblett
celebrates 102nd
Margaret Kent Niblett cele
brated her 102nd birthday
with family on Sept. 25. She
and her twin sister, Marjorie,
were born in Juliette to Ada
Griffin Kent and Elbert Kent.
Even through her body is fee
ble, her mind is still sharp. She
loves reminiscing about the
good old times growing up in
Juliette with her grandchil
dren and great grandchildren.
Margaret married Bailey
Niblett in 1935 and they had
four children: Shirley, Pete,
Pat and Kent. Margaret loves
visits from her friends and
loves talking on the phone. She
lives with her daughter, Pat,
and son-in-law, Nat.
Community Calendar continued from page 5C
Oct. 28, from 4-6 p.m.
Help celebrate the new
physical therapy/occupa
tional therapy gym and
see the beautiful art
work donated by Monroe
County Arts Alliance
and the new steps built
by Mary Persons stu
dents. Refreshments will
be served, and there will
be candy for the kids.
Oct. 27-28
Auditions at The
Rose
Auditions for "A Bad
Year for Tomatoes"
directed by Joan
McGinley will be
Monday and Tuesday,
Oct. 27 and 28, at 7 p.m.
at the Rose Theater.
Show debuts in January
2015.
Oct. 30
PruittHealth
Monroe plans
Haunted Hall
PruittHealth Monroe
(formerly known as
Hilltop Nursing Home),
4796 Hwy 42 North,
Forsyth, will have a
Haunted Hall on
Thursday, Oct. 30,. from
6-8 p.m. Bring all the
kids for a night of fun
and treats. There will be
games, a cake walk, pop
corn and candy apples.
For more information,
contact Margaret
Andrews, activity direc
tor, at 478-994-5662.
Oct. 31
Pruitt Health has
Trunk or Treat
PruittHealth of
Forsyth will have a
Trunk or Treat on
Friday, Oct. 31, at 10
a.m. Set up time is 9:30
a.m.This event is a great
way to safely celebrate
Halloween. Kids get all
the candy they can han
dle. Residents of
PruittHealth of Forsyth
get the satisfaction of
seeing kids have fun
safely. Plus, they get to
meet with other adults
and have some fun
too.The concept is a sim
ple “trick or treat” style
tailgate party.
Participants open up
their car trunks and dis
tribute candy or small
carnival-type prizes to
eager trick or
treaters.To participate,
contact the Activities
Department at 478-994-
5671.
Melvin Lawrence, left, and
J.B. King present certifi
cates to Monroe County
citizens ages 90 and over,
including those at the
head table of the annual
Rubye J. Watts family
Birthday Party: Annie
Hansford, Hattie Driskell,
Fannie Moore, Cora
Bevins, Roberta Smith,
Grover Tyner, Bessie Turn
er, and Sadie Williams.
Rosanne Tyner, fourth
from right, accompanied
her husband, Grover, but
she has not made it to the
90-100 Club, yet.
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“Not only do we stand
behind our windows...
we stand on them!”
- Local Owner,
Josh Watson
Piedmont Academy
Grandparents’Club
Annual Bazaar & Flea Market
126 Hwy. 212 W. • Monticello, GA 31064
Thu., Oct. 23rd * 12 Noon until 5 p.m.
Fri., Oct. 24th • 9:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 25th * 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.
Huge Flea Market - New & Used Items
Silent Auction
home canned vegetables • jellies and jams
used tooks • toys and baby items
homemade cakes • cookies • pies
candies • Christmas decorations
furniture & antiques
AND MUCH MORE!!!
The Songs You Grew Up With Rack ‘n Rail Birthdays
Trivia Challenge J An nr versa ry Honor Roll
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Every Sunday 6-8 P.M.
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