Sumner County TN Archives News....."Mother of fourteen says she'd do it again" 1979
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Janet King JPerdue192@aol.com March 9, 2009, 4:02 pm

Portland Leader 1979
     Mrs. Charity Mae Perdue of 219 Russell St., Portland has given birth to 
fourteen children. Except for one set of twins they were all single births.
     "I had all my babies at home," Mrs. Perdue said "and I had the doctor with 
me except for the twins". "The twin boys were delivered by a midwife". Mrs 
Perdue who is now 79 years of age said that if she could do it all over again 
in the same time frame she would gladly have all the children again.
     "It would be impossible in today's economy," she told me. "It takes so 
much to bring up a child and put them through school these days. "I would not 
want to try and bring up a family in town, I like the farm life," she said.
     How did she manage such a large family? "I gave them all jobs, everyone 
had their own chores to do. I taught all my girls to cook and keep house and 
I'll say they beat me at it today. They all are good cooks," she laughed.
     The Perdue clan has produced 53 grandchildren for the grand lady, 88 great 
grandchildren. If that seems to make Mae Perdue seem like an ancient person you 
are wrong. She is an active homemaker, church woman, does cooking, canning and 
freezing and keeps friendly conversation going with her neighbors and friends. 
Her husband Charlie died three years ago.
     I reminded Mrs. Perdue that she had been pregnant for over 126 months of 
her life to which she responded, "I used to ask the doctor how old I was going 
to have to be before it would all stop, I saw the doctor recently at the Perdue 
reunion and we laughed together about my exasperation over being pregnant so 
much".
     Talking to this happy lady, you would quickly notice that she loves her 
family dearly and there is every evidence of their deep affection for her. 
Visits, calls, pictures, letters and cards come to her from those who live here 
in Portland, Indiana, Ohio and Florida.
     "I have enough pictures for another album when I get them all gathered up 
she boasted".
     "Would you do it all over again, Mae? Yes, I surely would." And you know 
she means it.


Additional Comments:
Charity Mae Whitson was born 2 May 1900 in Sumner Co., TN she married Charlie 
Washington Perdue 28 Sept 1919 in Portland, TN. Charlie was born 14 Feb 1892 in 
Sumner Co., TN and died 23 August 1977 in Gallatin, TN. Charity died 30 Dec 
1990 in Nashville, TN. They are both buried Restlawn Cemetery, Simpson Co., KY.
Charity Mae was 90 years old when she died. She was looking forward to 100 
years and a Happy Birthday wish from Willard Scott on the Today Show. She did 
have one regret, living longer than her children, she lost three before her 
death.

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