Happy 49th Birthday to Me!

Happy 119th Birthday Rebecca Lanier

Imagine being 119 years old. Happy Birthday to Rebecca Lanier of Ohio.

Happy Birthday to Me Today!

Happy Birthday to me on this day, September 27th. Another year has passed and I plan to enjoy the day! Thank God for blessing me to see another birthday, just three years shy of the big 5-0.

On Saturday, I had a pre-birthday celebration with a college chum at Friendlys Ice Cream Restaurant, http://www.friendlys.com/, where we both enjoyed eating a banana split. YUM! YUM! When we ordered, the waiter asked "just one?" We both shouted "NO!" My friend and I thoroughly enjoyed our individual banana splits.

All Smiles - Aunt Della's 100th Birthday Celebration

Aunt Della is all smiles as several party attendees stop by her table to personally wish her a "Happy 100th Birthday.

Happy 100th Birthday Aunt Della

Happy 100th Birthday to my Aunt Della Moore Richardson who turned the big 1-0-0 on Saturday, December 26, 2009. She celebrated her day with a big birthday party and numerous family and friends and some county officials helped her to celebrate this momentous occasion.

Aunt Della was the youngest daughter born on December 26, 1909 in the Liberty area in Greensville County, VA to Robert Moore and Mary Eliza Robinson Moore. She is the youngest sister of my paternal grandmother Hattie Moore Pair and is the last living child of her family.

Until a few years ago, Aunt Della thought she was born in 1910 instead of 1909, but research revealed a birth year of 1909. Read more about this discovery.

Aunt Della is assisted by her oldest grandson in cutting her 100th birthday cake.

What a blessing it was to attend Aunt Della's 100th birthday party.

On December 26, 2009,
Aunt Della was QUEEN FOR A DAY!

More party details and photos to come . . . .

Memory Monday: Queens For A Day

My high school friend Bryn and I are "Queens for a Day" as we celebrated our 42nd birthdays in 2005 with a tea party at her house with a few other high school friends. We are both September 1963 babies.

We spent the afternoon sipping hot tea and ice tea, eating fruits, veggies, mini quiche, pigs in the blanket weiners, and various cookies and desserts.

What a spread we had at our Big Girl Tea Party. Everything was delicious and a good time was had by ALL.

Happy 46th Birthday to Me!

It seems like just yesterday that I celebrated my 40th birthday. But that was six years ago in 2003 and I gave myself a 40th birthday party. My how, time flies (smile). So, today I turned 46. Wow!

I have not done anything yet to celebrate. Much of my day on Saturday was spent at a festival where I also did a presentation. This morning, I attended a work related ceremony. The rest of this birthday will probably be spent resting and the celebrations will come later. One upcoming celebration will be with my high school friend Bryn, who will celebrate her birthday on September 30th. We have been celebrating our birthdays together since we turned 40.

This morning, when I got up, I said "Happy Birthday" to myself. Then I began thinking about my favorite version of the "Happy Birthday Song," which is the one by Stevie Wonder. His version of "Happy Birthday to You," was written during the 1980s in dedication to the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Since that time, Stevie Wonder's hand-clapping, foot-tapping version of the song has been sang at countless African-American birthday celebrations. And so to the rhythm of Stevie Wonder's song, today I sing "Happy Birthday to Me."

You can hear the song in the video below which contains a few personal photos as well as photos of various cakes, balloons, and birthday party items. Although I probably won't do much to celebrate today, I have purchased cake and ice cream to eat with dinner.

I also wish other September 27th birthday babies a Happy Day--my cousin Janet and friend Angelique, and the many others born on this date.

Memory Monday: Lordy, Lordy, Look Who’s Forty!

On September 27, 2003, I celebrated my 40th birthday with a big birthday bash at a Chinese Restaurant. I had never given myself a birthday party, but I felt that it was what I should do. Turning 40 is a major life milestone and I wanted to celebrate, rather than be sad about getting older. One of my former supervisors had died suddenly in 1998 at age 37 and after this time, I viewed turning 40 as a blessing rather than a curse. Celebrities, whose untimely deaths influenced my attitude toward turning 40 were John F. Kennedy, Jr. ( died 1999) and Princess Diana (died 1997.) Both of them died before the age of 40.

About 38 family members and friends attended my birthday bash which was held at a local Chinese Restaurant. A good time was had by all!

This photo was taken after the party. As you can see from the smile on my face, it was a wonderful day! I was glad to find this chinese styled pants suit for my chinese themed party.

I had four young hostesses which included my two youngest nieces (seen here) and daughters of two of my coworkers. I was fortunate to find beautiful chinese styled tops for each of the girls.

I went low-tech and did this poster board display with photos from various times in my life. I had planned to do a PowerPoint slide show, but the poster board display worked out better.

This lovely birthday cake with a baby photo and an adult photo was delicious!

I received numerous gifts for my 40th birthday which made this birthday celebration extra special.

The Sunshine Girls

The Sunshine Girls (left to right) Tunisha, LaVetta, Drusilla (Me), and Maria helped me begin my 40th birthday celebrations.

Prior to my current employment, which began in December 1999, I had never been one to hang out with coworkers outside of work, but several years ago I bonded with these three coworkers in this photo. We called ourselves "The Sunshine Girls," a name that came about after one of the coworkers (Tunisha) and I took a bus trip to New York with a bus company called Sunshine Tours. After this trip in April 2000 or 2001, Tunisha and I began addressing each other as "Sunshine." I don't remember whether we began hanging out with the other two coworkers before, or after our New York trip. However, as our relationship evolved, the name "Sunshine Girls" stuck to this group.

The four of us, all single at the time, would go out for dinner, a concert, or other activity occasionally. When I turned 40 in September 2003, I told Maria, a coworker of Phillipine descent, that I had never been to a Japanese Restaurant. As a result, she invited me to a local Japanese restaurant to celebrate my birthday, along with the two other Sunshine Girls. This celebration, which I call my Pre-40th Birthday event, was held two weeks prior to my actual birthday and big 4-0 party.

The Sunshine Girls posing (left to right) Tunisha, Drusilla (Me), Maria, and LaVetta

Today, there are only two Sunshine Girls still working in my current employment organization and the two of us often remininense about our the Sunshine Girls. Although, I miss the time all of us spent together many years ago, I will forever cherish these wonderful memories. I thank God for these Sunshine sisters and for the the joy that they brought to my life during our times together.

ForEver Sunshine Girls!

Aunt Della’s 99th Birthday Party

On December 26, 2007, our family celebrated Aunt Della’s 97th birthday. The next year we celebrated her 99th birthday. Why the two-year jump in a year?

Aunt Della’s youngest daughter and I found evidence through the 1910 census that she was born in 1909 instead of 1910 as she originally thought. I presented the evidence to Aunt Della in July 2008. (Read more)


Birthday Party Invitation
I received a birthday invitation from Aunt Della’s daughters and was thrilled to see an acknowledgement of her correct age. I’m sure that family members were puzzled as to why the invitation said 98th/99th birthday.


Birthday Party Program
Aunt Della’s daughters included a statement on the back of the party program explaining the age discrepancy at her birthday party held on December 26, 2008. I was very pleased to see this acknowledgment.


Vital Statistics Office
At the birthday party, Aunt Della’s oldest daughter informed me that she had taken her mother to the Vital Statistics office in our state capitol and showed them the copies of the 1910 and 1920 censuses that I gave her mother. My cousin was given an official document validating Aunt Della’s birth date as December 26, 1909 instead of December 26, 1910. My cousin did not remember what type of document she received, but she was told that it could be used to provide proof of her mother’s date of birth. She plans to send me a copy of the document.

Lord, I want to Make one hundred, ninety-nine and a half won’t do
By the time of the Aund Della’s party, the decorations, program, and cake all contained 99th birthday instead of 98th. When Aunt Della was asked to have words, she sang the following words to the tune of an old song entitled “Lord, I’m striving to make 100.

Lord, I want to Make one hundred,
Ninety-nine and a half won’t do.
Lord, I want to Make one hundred,
Ninety-nine and a half won’t do.


Help me Jesus,
To make one hundred,
Ninety-nine and a half won’t do.
Help me Jesus,
To make one hundred,
Ninety-nine and a half won’t do.

The old song, “Lord, I’m Striving to make 100,” is not about striving to turn 100 years old, but rather striving to live a perfect and pleasing life unto God. Nevertheless, Aunt Della changed the words to this familiar song and her party guest joined her in singing.

Birthday Tributes
Aunt Della was presented with tributes by her three daughters, grandchildren, great-grands, other family members, and friends. Her great-grands presented her with a large picture of President-Elect Barack Obama.

Save the Date - 100th Birthday Party
Aunt Della’s youngest daughter asked everyone who attended the party to SAVE THE DATE December 26, 2009 to celebrate her mother’s 100th birthday party.

Greetings From the White House

On Saturday night, I began an Internet search on 'White House birthday greetings for Centenarians' because my Aunt Della will be turning 100 next year. Aunt Della is the youngest sister of my paternal grandmother Hattie. Even though Aunt Della won't turn 100 until December 26, 2009, I wanted to look into this matter early so that my family would know what to anticipate. I wasn't sure if a birthday greeting from the President of the United States was automatically sent, or if someone needed to submit a request. From my Internet search, I learned that a request has to be submitted at least six weeks in advance and that the honoree has to be a U.S. Citizen.

I was extremely surprised to learn that individuals as young as 80 can receive a birthday greeting from the President of the United States. Wow, I thought after reading this, Aunt Della, and my other elderly relatives, such as my 86-year-old maternal grandmother, could have already received a birthday greeting form the President of the United States if I had known about this age criteria.

I also learned that official greetings from the White House are not only sent for birthdays, but also for other special events such as a 50th anniversaries, Weddings, a Baby's Birth, Eagle Scout Award, Girl Scout Gold Award Bar, and Bat Mitzvah's or other equivalent events.

I'm looking forward to utilizing the White House Greeting card to honor my Aunt Della and other elderly family members, as well as to welome the births of two new additions to my family (a great niece and a great nephew whose arrivals are expected in February and March of 2009.) The White House Greeting Cards will be even more special for my family since they will be signed by the first African American President of the United States of America, Barack Obama.

For more information on Greetings from the White House, visit the websites below.

How to Order Greeting from White House

National Centenarian Awareness Project

Happy Birthday to Me!

Happy Birthday Aunt Mary!

Eighty-one years ago on March 31, 1927, my great Aunt Mary Johnson was born in Warren County, NC to my great-grandparents George and Bell Bullock Johnson. Aunt Mary never married, nor had any children, but she was a devoted Aunt to her nieces and nephews. From her, I learned that the role of the unmarried childless aunt was to help financially and otherwise with the nieces and nephews. I have done the same as Aunt Mary since I became an Aunt in 1981.

I was not around Aunt Mary that much, but we communicated through letters. Unfortunately I don’t have any of those letters now. She also gave me money when my family couldn’t afford things such as my high school class ring and things needed for high school graduation. I have been told by older cousins that she also helped them financially when they were growing up.

Aunt Mary moved to White Plains, NY when she was a young woman and joined the Little Mount Zion Holy Church in White Plains, NY. This church was started by her paternal aunt Pennie Johnson Higgs. Aunt Mary remained in White Plains, NY until she died on January 5, 1986. She was buried in the cemetery of the Union Chapel Holy Church in Ridgeway, NC on January 11, 1986.

My cousins and I miss her and talk about her often. Gone but not forgotten.

Happy Birthday Grandma Bell!

Music "Holy, Holy, Holy" dedicated in memory of my great grandmother Bell. This is a hymn that she would have sung in praise to God.
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Bell Bullock Johnson (1890-1982)
My great grandmother Bell Bullock Johnson was born 118 years ago on March 29, 1890 in the Drewry area of Vance County, NC to Andrew and Luvenia Jeffress Bullock. She was the mother of my maternal grandmother Emma. Three siblings were born before her: Mollie (1883-1977), John (1885-1957), and James (1887-1931). Six other siblings were born after Grandma Bell: Channie (1892-1966), Mima (1894-1960s), Nancie (1896-1950), Andrew (1899-1972), Bessie (1901-1991), and Joseph (1905-1932.)

On February 11, 1914, Grandma Bell married George Johnson (1893-1932,) the youngest son of Plummer Johnson (1846-1917) and Susie Jerman Johnson (1858-1939) of Ridgeway, NC. Grandma Bell settled in Ridgeway and remained there the remainder of her life. Her husband’s ancestors lived in Ridgeway for many years possibly dating back before the Civil War

Six lovely children were born to George and Bell Johnson: James (1915-1915), Willie (1917-2000), Charlie (1919- 2004), Emma (1922-2011 ), Mary (1927-1986), and George “Richard” (1932-1992).

On February 28, 1932, during the Great Depression, Grandma Bell’s husband died leaving her with four children and pregnant with another. After the birth of their son on April 30, 1932, her mother Luvenia took care of her three youngest children. Grandma Bell returned to Ridgeway and worked as a Cook for Charlie Herring, the son of German immigrants in Ridgeway. Her two oldest sons, Willie and Charlie, were ages 12 and 14 at the death of their father. They returned to Ridgeway with their mother and worked to help support the family.

Like her mother Luvenia, Grandma Bell was a strong believer in holy living and faith healing. She was a member of Pentecostal Holiness churches and testified of being “saved, sanctified, and filled with the Holy Ghost.” In 1912, she became a founding member of Union Chapel Holy Church. Prior to that she was a member of Morning Star Holy Church in Middleburg area of Vance County. She believed strongly in the ministry of Oral Roberts, an Oklahoma evangelist, and his teachings on faith and healing. She didn’t believe in watching television except to watch Oral Roberts. She only used her radio to listen to Oral Roberts and other religious broadcasts. Grandma Bell believed in keeping the Sabbath holy, which meant not doing any work or cooking on Sundays. She hated listening to gossip and would tune it out by humming a song.

When interviewed in 1980 by a reporter for a church publication about her life, Grandma Bell said, “I don’t want my light to get dull, I want my light to shine bright so men can see the good works and glorify the Father. I ain’t got no bad works, but I want my light to shine bright. I let my light shine so that black and white can see Jesus in me.”
Grandma Bell Bullock Johnson died on July 4, 1982 in the Warren General Hospital located in Warren County, NC. Her funeral was held on July 9, 1982 at Union Chapel Holy Church, Ridgeway, NC and she was buried in the church cemetery.