Milam County Historical Commission
Milam County, Texas
Milam County, Texas
All Credit for this article
goes to Shane Ersland
and the
Temple Daily Telegram
goes to Shane Ersland
and the
Temple Daily Telegram
100 Years Young: Local Woman Marks Centennial
by Shane Ersland - Telegram Staff Writer
Temple Daily Telegram - January 25, 2014
As Lohma Davis celebrates her 100th birthday today, she will reflect on the circumstances that have enabled her to live such a long and fruitful life, and focus on the many ways she will continue to help people in the future.
Davis lives at the Meridian in Temple, and has been looking forward to hitting the century mark.
“She has had about four parties already; she’s loved,” Meridian Activities Director Kila Jefferies said. “She was very excited about her birthday.”
The Meridian threw Davis a birthday party Thursday. “They did a surprise party for me,” Davis said. “I cried so hard.”
She also has celebrated with her family and her church, Western Hills Church of Christ.
Davis is very upbeat, and enjoys talking about her life experiences, and discussing current events. Gov. Rick Perry’s office called to wish her a happy birthday, although she is not committed to any specific political party.
“I’m not a Republican or a Democrat,” Davis said. “I’m for whoever can do the best job.”
Jefferies said she visits with Davis at least once a week to enjoy her stories.
“She speaks her mind,” Jefferies said. “She’s a feisty one.”
Throughout her teaching career, Davis taught at Rockdale, Thorndale and Temple independent school districts. She was a substitute teacher in Temple until she was 85, and has a 75-year member award from the Texas Extension Education Association’s Bell County District framed on her wall.
Davis’ ancestors were early settlers in Bell County. Her great-great-grandfather, Jefferson Reed, joined the Republic of Texas Army with his brother, William Whitaker Reed.
William - Davis’ great-great uncle - was the first sheriff of Bell County.
After her father died in 1929, Davis assumed the responsibility of transporting cotton from the family’s farm in Rogers.
“I drove the wagon and the mules to the gin,” she said. “That taught me hard work and integrity.”
After 100 years, it would be normal for most people to contemplate life’s inevitable end, but Davis has plenty of reason to keep going.
“I feel like I’m ready to go, but as long as my mind is good, and if there are things I can do to help others, I want to stay,” Davis said.
Helping other residents at the Meridian maneuver the facility is one of her daily duties, Davis said.
“There are people here who have dementia, or loss of memory,” she said. “They have to go to parts of the building, and they can’t make it down there. And they come to me because I have been here for so long. And they come for mental advice.”
Davis still moves around pretty well, although she sometimes uses an electric wheelchair.
“What’s kept me living is water aerobics,” she said. “I used to do it twice a day at Scott & White. They honored me for being the oldest one there.”
She always follows her doctors’ advice, as well.
“My doctor told me he wasn’t going to tell me what to eat, but he told me to take a glass of wine three times per day, and I did it,” Davis said. “It did wonders for my blood (flow).”
sersland@tdtnews.com
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1914 LOOKING BACK
A look at events that happened in Lohma Davis’ birth year, 1914:
-Ford Motor Co. an- nounced the eight-hour workday. Charlie Chaplin made his film debut.
-President Woodrow Wilson signed a Mother’s Day proclamation.
-Babe Ruth made his major league debut with the Boston Red Sox.
-World War I began.
-The Panama Canal opened.
Lohma Davis
Photo by Josh Quinn - Temple Daily Telegram
.
Photo by Josh Quinn - Temple Daily Telegram
.