New London County CT Archives News.....107 Years and Still Counting May 6, 1982
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Barbara W. Brown buwbrown@comcast.net October 9, 2008, 10:58 am

Standard May 6, 1982
   For the last 107 years, Maranda Reeves said, she has drawn her strength from 
the Lord, she was born on April 28, 1875.  Despite her claimed loss of memory -
 "It's easy to forget" - she remembers a great deal of her past.
   She was born in Camden, Kershaw County, South Carolina, the second oldest of 
fourteen children.  She grew up on her parents' farm.  "My father had been a 
slave, but my mother never was."
   As a young girl, she yearned to become a teacher.  "I used to stay after 
school and my teacher trained me about teaching."  However, she had to leave 
school when she was in the ninth grade to help her parents work on the farm.  
   Maranda married William Reeves when she was in her 20's.  "I don't recall 
exactly how old I was...22, 23, 24 or 25."  She described the farm she grew up 
on.  "We had 60 acres of cotton, 20 acres of corn and two acres of sweet 
potato. plus a vegetable patch.  It was a four horse farm."
   They had three children.  "I raised two of them," she said.  Cathron, now 
her only living child, lives in an appartment above her mother.  Cathron, now 
75, was born on her mother's thirty-second birthday.  Sitting in her chair, 
Maranda lifted her hand and moved her arm to draw attention to all the flowers, 
cards and gifts she has received.  "I told Cathron that half of all these were 
for her."
   One of the many gifts she received was a color television set from First 
Selectman Helen Gay.  "I've always wanted a color tv, ever since they started," 
she said with a smile.
   Her eyes are clouded with cataracts, making it difficult for her to 
read.  "My eyesight has been failing," she said.  She used to spend a great 
deal of time reading and studying the Bible.  Although she can't read from it 
anymore, her grandson, Willy Reeves, said "She knows more about the Bible than 
anything else in the world.  She can quote verse and chapter from it."
   She remembers many other things as well.  "I recall when there were no 
electric lights and we used kerosene.  I remember the first car in Kershaw.  It 
was either a Model T or A.  I remember the first kerosene and water powered 
engine in South Carolina.  It was in Kershaw.  I remember President William 
McKinley well.  I remember travel by horse and carriage, buggies and wagons and 
roads so muddy you sometimes could't get through."
   The first time she ever voted for a president it was for Harry Truman.  By 
then she and Cathron had moved north.  "We couldn't vote in the south.  There 
weren't very many colored people voting in Kershaw."
   One of the most painful things, Miranda said, is losing so many family 
members.  She does have her baby sister, Ida, who now lives in Norwich.  "I 
remember when her birthday is, but this year I forgot how old she is.  I think 
she's 77."  And she still has Cathron.  But most everybody else has gone," she 
said.  Her husband passed away in 1943.
   While not too many of her close family are left, she has ten grandchildren, 
22 great grandchildren, and 10 great great grandchildren she feels close to.  
She may not recall all their names but they are now her family, and she taught 
them how to spell.  She maintains, "The only important thing I've taught them 
is to go to church, to learn all they could."  All her grandchildren have 
graduated from high school, for which she thanks the Lord.  She's glad that 
they have education.  "It's something I always wanted, but never had."
   Living in her own apartment on Windham Avenue, she still does a lot for 
herself.  Although her shoulder sometimes pains her and she has to walk with 
the assistance of a stick, she bakes pies, cans vegetables, and enjoys having 
company.  "I have a nurse visit me very day.  When I'm out of bed, I work 
around the house with her.  But if i"m in bed, she'll do everything for me.  
She's been wonderful."  
   Maranda summed up her 107 years.  "The secret of my life is that I've put my 
trust in the Lord.  I've put my life in His hands and just ask the Lord to take 
care of me."

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