Local Resident Turns 102

With her soft white curls framing her face, Lillie Mae Springer sat comfortably in her chair and visited with her son Carroll, 69, Sunday afternoon. She commented on her son's good looks and quickly added, "but don't tell him." 

Born November 1, 1909, Lillie Mae is one of three children and theirs was “a good family” she explained. She is the only surviving sibling.

The Albemarle, North Carolina native moved to Cumming in 2002 after the death of her husband, Theodore, and is visited regularly by her only child and his wife, Linda. She is grandmother to three young men who are also Georgia residents. 

Of Albemarle she said she “loved it there.” Her son explained that it was a small town of roughly 12,000 people and there are probably as many residents today.

Her life was simple, marrying Theodore in April of 1929. 

“I couldn’t have done better. He was a good fella. They don’t make ‘em better,” she said of her husband.

The high school graduate worked in hosiery and had a daily routine of rising at five in the morning to make breakfast for her husband and as he headed off to work, she then fixed breakfast for her son. After working all day, she fixed dinner and cleaned the house.

“She kept a clean house,” said Carroll.

According to her son, the arrangement between his parents was simple: “they agreed that she would take care of the inside of the house and he would care of the outside.”

“I never heard raised voices,” added Carroll who had lived home until leaving for college.

His mother is, “not much of a meat eater. If given a choice she’d eat vegetables,” said Carroll. Her diet is something he attributes to her longevity. 

Lillie Mae was quick to add that she had been “hangin’ around here a long time.” 

As he chatted, she would pat his hand and lovingly say, “sure am glad to see you today” and “[you] sure are good to come see me." She sat to his left and wiggled her toes inside warm hot pink slipper socks. 

The resident of White Oaks at Lanier assisted living facility remembers when Hoover and Roosevelt were president. She added that she “never” thought there would be an African-American president. 

She shared that roses are her favorite flower and commented on the flower arrangement in the room. Carroll added that her sister was a flower breeder which could explain the preference. Alert and chatty, her next comment was about the “pretty tablecloth” that was underneath the arrangement. 

Her 91 birthday was celebrated in Los Angeles with family members and included being an audience member for “The Price is Right.” 

This year her birthday will be celebrated a bit more quietly with family and friends enjoying cake and ice cream.