Nancy Wilson Celebrates Turning 105
/Nancy Wilson Celebrates Turning 105
By Michelle Lepianka Carter, West Alabama Regional Commission, Area Agency on Aging
Surrounded by family, and a half-eaten birthday cake, in a room where the love is so thick you can feel it like a warm blanket, Nancy Wilson relaxes into a cushioned recliner with her three-year-old great-grandson, LaQuavius Pearson, nestled beside her. The crowd has assembled to celebrate a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother on an accomplishment few have bragging rights over – turning 105 years young.
Nancy, originally from Bessemer, Alabama, was born on January 25, 1919. While she admits she can’t hear as well as she used to, her age has not stopped her from living life on her own terms, at home with her daughter, Lily Rancher where she enjoys cooking soul food and cornbread. Nancy moved to Tuscaloosa in 1994, the same year she lost her husband of 35 years. She is a mother of nine children. Her oldest living is a son who is 72. She also has approximately 19 grandchildren and 40 great-grandchildren.
A pile of gifts perhaps includes some of her favorite items, pajamas, socks, cookies, throw blankets and sugar free candy. And the room is decorated with items in her favorite colors: red, white and pink. Her family recounts her favorite tv shows which include The Jeffersons and Wheel of Fortune while her favorite movies are part of the Madea series. When it comes to music, Nancy loves the Blues. Her family chuckles as they list of some of the greats such as The Temptations, Al Green and Tyrone David that have played over Nancy’s speakers.
When asked if she thought she would live to celebrate 100 years of life she stated “Yes, I believed it.” Perhaps her belief played a role in making it to five additional trips around the sun, but, if you ask Nancy, she’ll tell you the key is “to do right in life and live by the Lord”. Happy Birthday Nancy!
