By Delbra Davis
The secret to living to 100? “It’s no secret. I was just blessed by the Lord, and I guess a little hard work didn’t hurt either,” says Arbria Malone.
Athens resident Arbria Malone recently reached that milestone. She was born July 30, 1909, one of eight children, and is a lifelong resident of Athens.
Malone said, growing up in a large family, all of them worked around the house.
“We learned to milk cows, pull corn, pick beans, pluck chickens, pick cotton, and all that,” she said.
Malone, now widowed, had four daughters. Her two eldest daughters died in 1992. She said that was a very hard year for her, but the Lord saw her through. She is blessed to have two living daughters, Cassie Fraser and Rosie Turner, both of Athens.
Ballroom celebration
On Sunday, July 26, hundreds of people were on hand at Athens State Ballroom, including her immediate family, church family, extended family, friends and former employers to celebrate the joyous event.
An afternoon lunch was served with entrees of Lawler’s chicken and Apple Lane Farm Honey Baked Ham. Kimberly Essex, anchor of Channel 48 News in Huntsville was mistress of ceremonies for the occasion.
Several persons from Athens and the surrounding communities made special presentations, including:
• Proclamation and key to the city of Athens by Councilman Jimmy Gill;
• Song presentations by the Huntsville Police Blue Harmony, the Southside/A Cappella Singers and Joyce Pryor;
• Feature presentation by WHNT-Channel 19, and a card from Willard Scott of the NBC Today Show.
Other presentations from churches and the community included: Pastor Antoyne Green, New Life Church, Athens; Tammy Petty Rogers of St. Paul Catholic Church, Athens; Pastor Gregory Scott, Oak Grove Church, Athens; Pastor Troy Garner, Fellowship of Faith, Huntsville and Pastor Marvin Winston, Sweet Home Church, Athens.
From higher education came a tribute from Alabama A & M University.
Former presidents
Governor Bob Riley issued a resolution. She also received congratulatory letters from Congressman Parker Griffith, former President George H. Bush, former President Jimmy Carter, and a photo and card from former President Bill Clinton.
Family presentations came from her granddaughter, Delbra Davis and Dorothye Lloyd, extended family presentation from Ollye Ward, and a poem summarizing Malone’s life composed and read by Bernice Sanderfer.
Many well-wishers were there, including her adopted family: attorney Thomas Woodroof; George Berzett; attorney Charles Woodroof and family; Thomas Woodroof; Earline Wiley and family; Nettie Pryor and family; Charles, Lisa and their boys; and Terrell and Rosa Malone.
Guests saw a PowerPoint presentation portraying her life history.
“We are blessed,” her granddaughter, Delbra Davis, told the gathering. “We are so fortunate to have her around.”
Malone received more than 200 birthday cards, including a singing card and a voice-recorded card. She noted that when she was growing up, birthdays weren’t celebrated in such a big way.
“Maybe we got a cake,” she said. “But this is truly a blessed day!”
