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Ceola Lyons celebrated her 101st birthday on April 23, 2019 with family, friends and neighbors joining her for a day of fun, entertainment and plenty of food.
She has changed in the last year, and doesn’t talk so much as she did then, but they remembered last year and the fun they had.
“It’s my day! It’s my day”, she sang as friends gathered around her to join in her celebration. She even tried to show that she could dance as well as any of them. When things got to be loud among party-goers, she straightened out. She reminded them that if was her day.
She was born on April 23, 1918 into a large family in Midway. There were 12 children in the family and things were not easy for them. With so many children in the family, she was never lonely. They all had chores to perform and if they weren’t done, they missed out on the next treat.
“Times were hard, but we were happy,”
“We didn’t miss what we had never had to begin with.”
They were not able to go to school on any kind of regular basis. The chores around the farm had to be done and as that was their livelihood, the chores came first.
“If I didn’t know God, I wouldn’t have made it,” she said. “No matter how things are, if you have God, you don’t have to worry about anything. I don’t worry and I know that whatever God wants for me is what I want.”
Out of the 12 children in her family, she is the only one left. But she is certainly not without her family.
She had seven children, three of whom are still living. Her health has been pretty good she said.
“I’ve got good genes,” she laughed. “I got mine but I don’t know about y’all. I came to live in Brewton in 1939. I worked for Earl and Mary Parker and they helped me to qualify for Social Security later on.
“We grew up with no electricity, no running water and had a outdoor toilet, but back in those days, no one had much,” she added. “I am grateful to have lived so long, and as long as God wants me to, I’ll be here. I am ready to go if He wants and I don’t worry about it.”
Yes, Ceola Lyons has plenty to be thankful for. Everyone is not lucky enough to have lived so long and had the love she has from her family and friends.
Congratulations Ceola Lyons. Happy Birthday.