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Willa Gibson of Rockingham Celebrates 100th Birthday With Family, Friends, and Community Hospice

Willa Gibson of Rockingham Celebrates 100th Birthday with Nieces Wanda Clark and Nancy Leviner
Photo by Pam Simmons

ROCKINGHAM – Saturday, August 25, 2018 was a very special day for Ms. Willa Gibson of Rockingham, as she celebrated her 100th birthday. Her nieces Wanda Clark and Nancy Leviner, with whom she has resided over the last 26 years combined, invited Ms. Gibson’s many friends to visit and celebrate at Mrs. Leviner’s home in Rockingham. Surrounded by her loving nieces in a beautiful room filled with antiques, Gibson did not look like a lady that has been part of the Richmond County community for 100 years. Speaking clearly with a sense of humor and appreciation for all the attention at this gathering, her hair and makeup were such that she could certainly pass for a lady of 20 years younger or more.

Growing up during the Great Depression, Ms. Gibson shared memories of her childhood and a happy, simpler lifestyle. Growing up on a farm, she took on many responsibilities at an early age—but her favorite thing was cooking. As Gibson’s parents got older and needed healthcare, she quit work to focus on taking care of them, and later also became a caregiver for her brother. She said she learned to “Save a little, spend a little, and give to the church.” When asked how she likes to spend her time now, Ms. Gibson responded that she enjoys reading books, magazines, newspapers, sending cards to friends, and taking naps. She loves company and especially babies. A member of the East Rockingham United Methodist Church, she said she grew up “conservatively” and spoke openly about her faith in God. Her advice to others about how to live a long and happy life is to “Always put God first in your life and first in your heart”.

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Community Home Care and Hospice provides hospice services for Ms. Gibson in Mrs. Nancy Leviner’s home in Rockingham. The company’s goal is to “provide comfort, compassion, dignity, and peace through hospice care.”  Miranda Watson, RN, has been working with Gibson since December of 2017, and the special bond between them is quite evident. Other Hospice workers and volunteers that visited during my interview included Lisa Lucky, Volunteer Coordinator; Holly Smith, Patient Care Coordinator, and her baby Adalynn; Tonya Butts; and Shelia Gilmore. Visitors from Burlington and Lumberton, as well as many friends throughout Richmond County were also on the guest list. She had already received 22 birthday cards in the mail on Friday and her nieces assured her that more would be coming. Ms. Gibson said, “It is always good to be remembered. I feel special….Do I look special?”

Ms. Willa Gibson, I can certainly answer that question with a resounding “Yes! You are special, and you look special!” I am sure that all of her family and friends would agree. Very few people in our day and time live to the age of 100. According to genealogyintime.com, only 0.0173% of Americans live to this age. Perhaps it would be wise to follow the advice of Willa Gibson and “Always put God first in your life and first in your heart.”



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