Teddy Roosevelt was president the year Lula Johnston was born in El Paso, Texas. Seventeen presidents and 100 years later, Ms. Johnston plans on casting a vote in November's election.
Ms. Johnston, who says she has voted in every presidential election since she became eligible to register, turned 100 years old on Sunday. Family and friends gathered the week before for an early birthday celebration. The party featured 100 pink roses and the release of 100 balloons.
Having experienced many decades of American milestones, Ms. Johnston naturally has a passion for history. That passion translates to her love for reading.
"I like to read good novels, especially historical novels," Ms. Johnston said.
After she retired from her job as a secretary at Fort Gordon's Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center, Ms. Johnston started a library at Southside Baptist Church.
"I love that library very much," she said. For 10 years, Ms. Johnston held summer reading clubs for children at the library, which closed when the church moved to a new property.
"She instilled in me the love of reading," said Lou Ellen Willis, Ms. Johnston's daughter. "I prayed through the years the Lord would not take away her sight."
Mamma Lula, as family and friends affectionately call Ms. Johnston, continues to read and balances her own checkbook.
With many years and miles under her belt, Ms. Johnston passes on important lessons to her three children, 12 grandchildren, and numerous great- and great-great grandchildren.
"Having someone that close to you so old, you get so much wisdom from hearing stories," said Ms. Johnston's great-great granddaughter Kaycie Callaway.
At her party, Ms. Johnston shared advice that she learned from the Great Depression.
"If you have to, you can manage to get along with what you have," she said.
As far as the secret to seeing 100 years of history in the making, "I am a very active person. I love swimming and walking," she said.
Reach Meg Mirshak at (706) 828-2946 or margaret.mirshak@augustachronicle.com.
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