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"Aunt Will" in Hall of Fame
Mrs. Willie Gray Richardson Watson was 99 years old then. "Aunt Will was born in Campbell," said her niece Naomi Jackson of Thomasville. "My records say she is 109. Her school records say 110, but since our records say she was born in 1898, we say she is 109." Aunt Will, during her younger years, was quite active in the Campbell community. She is a member of Tallahatta CME Church, was a missionary in the mission society of the church and worked for many families in the area. "She worked for the Griffins and raised their children Ivey and Carole. Mr. Griffin says that Aunt Will's his mom," Mrs. Jackson said. "He would say she'd whoop him just as soon as his own mother would." Another family she worked for was the family of former Alabama State Senator Bill Armistead. In a letter sent to Aunt Will congratulating her on her 100th birthday, the then senator said, "Thank you for all the years and that you and your late husband, Howard, supported our family. I will never forget the early years of my life in Campbell where you and Howard cared for my family and me."
Aunt Will and her husband Howard, who died about 30 years ago, never had any children of their own. "Everybody was her children," Mrs. Jackson said. Caring for people in the community and in her church was her calling in life. "There were only one or two cars in Campbell. She and my uncle would bring people to town - to Thomasville - to go shopping. Her car was always full of people," said Mrs. Campbell. "They had cows, chickens, hogs and a garden. There was always more than enough for her and her husband, so they gave it away. She would also supply the neighborhood with buttermilk and sweetmilk." Aunt Will's daddy was a minister, pastoring at Winter Grove Baptist Church in Morvin. She had nine sisters and one brother, with the brother being the oldest of the children. With her roots in the church, Aunt Will was always very faithful to her God and to the church. "She took care of the church and especially took pride in preparing for the sacrament," Mrs. Jackson said. "She would starch and iron the linens and make everything neat and clean. There were times when I was younger that I'd wonder why she spent so much time making everything just right." She added that the way Aunt Will lived for the Lord is probably a key to her long, healthy life. Mrs. Jackson was the fourth of Aunt Will's caretakers before she moved to the nursing home. She had outlived the three others. She also has out lived her doctor, Dr. Dozier. "This is her third century," said Mrs. Jackson. "She was born in the 19th century, lived through the 20th and now she's in the 21st." She has received personal wishes from several Alabama governors and U.S. presidents congratulating her on many birthdays since turning 100. Among them were from Gov. Fob James, Gov. Bob Riley, Gov. Don Siegelman and President Bill Clinton. Aunt Will has now been selected to be inducted into the 2007 Alabama Senior Citizens Hall of Fame. Her family members will travel to Montgomery to accept the award for her. Dr. Rick L. McBride, acting chairman said, "On behalf of the Alabama Senior Citizens Hall of Fame, please accept my congratulations for your exemplary service to seniors that has earned you the honor of being recognized at this awards ceremony. It is certainly worth of note that, you were selected for this honor by the permanent members of the Senior Citizens Hall of Fame based strictly on your service and assistance to your fellow seniors."
Mrs. Jackson added, "I think she's one of the longest living residents at the nursing home and is probably the oldest living person in the state of Alabama. That says something about the nursing home. I'm grateful for the support they have given to Aunt Will through the years. If it had not been for them, she would not have lived this long. They're taking care of her better than I can myself."
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