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Friday Was Elmira Gandy Crapps Day; She Turned 101 Years Old
January 25, 2008
Friday was proclaimed Elmira Gandy Crapps Day in the town of Century. Friday was a milestone day for Crapps when she turned 101. That’s one hundred and one.
She was born in Butler County, Alabama, near Georgiana in 1907. Theodore Roosevelt was president. A loaf of bread cost four cents. A gallon of milk was 29 cents. A new Ford? That would set you back 600 bucks.
She moved to a farm with her family in the Gandyville community in 1925, and still lives just down the road from that home.
She still drives, mostly to three places: the Piggly Wiggly for groceries, her church and her hairdresser. She’s still an active member of Poplar Dell Baptist Church, and very quick to give the Lord all the credit for her age and her health.
When asked her secret for a long life, she quickly replied that there was no secret. “It’s good living and a love of God. I’ve been blessed by the Lord and walk with Him,” she said.
Crapps is still active, very active in fact. She walks “seven times” most days, weather permitting, down her football field length driveway. She cooks three meals a day. This past summer, she canned pears and put peas and beans in the “deep freeze”.
When asked about the biggest change in her lifetime, she said “the way people wear, or don’t wear clothes”.
She never had children, but has “a ton” of nieces and nephews. Her father, John Oxford Gandy lived to the age of 108. In 1973, the Florida Legislature named Gandyville after him. He, by the way, had a first cousin that also lived to be 108.
Wednesday afternoon she arrived at the Panhandle Restaurant in Century for a bit of a surprise. Waiting for here were Century Mayor Freddie McCall, Sr., former mayor Benny Barnes and several friends and family members.
McCall presented her with the official proclamation of “Elmira Gandy Crapps Day” in Century on January 25, 2008 (pictured below). She smiled shyly while McCall read the proclamation to her and gave her a hug. She made a wish and blew out a single birthday candle on a slice of Panhandle pie, and ordered a grilled cheese, pickles on the side.
Friday, she planned to celebrate birthday number 101 with family and friends. And a trip to the hairdresser.
Click here for a photo gallery.
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