Henrico County honors centenarians

The 17 centenarians honored by Henrico County’s Outreach and Engagement Agency Thursday at the Springs Recreation Center in Highland Springs all received plaques honoring their lives, contributions and remarkable achievements.

Dignitaries and aging experts lauded the centenarians gathered and remarked that the event serves as a reminder that the people around us are integral to living a long and lasting life.

“Unfortunately, a hundredth birthday is something that not everyone gets to celebrate. It's precious and much more than a milestone. A long life is filled with countless memories, as well as struggles, and hopefully a lot of laughs,” said Henrico County Board of Supervisors Chair Roscoe D. Cooper III, of the Fairfield District.

“Each of these moments help shape our communities, guide people around us, and directly impact the world. And you all have more moments than most. You are witnesses to so much history. Your experiences have informed our current perspectives, if we're astute enough to listen.”

Cooper said the privilege to age is greatly enhanced with stability and care. Living in a safe home, having access to healthcare, finding outlets for connection, and relaxation makes it possible for people to enter the same centenarian club as well as the group gathered.

At the luncheon and awards ceremony, Span Center gerontologist Alexa van Aartrijk said that genes only account for 50% of our longevity.

 “That means that the family you are born into, lifestyle, environment, circumstance, hobbies, are all equally as important. So when we think about longevity, it is a call for us to think about the whole person, the neighborhoods in which we live in, the healthcare we receive, and the education that's afforded to us,” van Aartrijk said.

Gerontologists like van Aartrijk are calling this moment a longevity revolution where the 65 and older population is projected to nearly double from 10.5% to 19.6%, between 2025 and 2060.

“How cool,” van Aartrijk said. “Today we are here to celebrate this longevity, a century of longevity. A 100 years. And for many of you, more than 100 years, birthdays, holidays and changing seasons, 100 years in resilience and changes, both accepted and unaccepted. 100 years of wisdom.”

Independence and patience

The centenarians; names and ages were read, along with some biographical facts one-by-one, as their photos were projected onto a screen showing many of the honorees over the years.

As plaques were handed out to each honoree at the tables where the centenarians ate a late lunch with family and friends, Henrico Advocate for the Aging Ashlee Giles summarized each resident’s life story – raising families, completing careers, traveling – along with their keys to longevity.

Some said they stay busy, stay positive and enjoy the people they love.

Others cultivate a life of ongoing curiosity, purpose, adventure and connection.

One honoree appreciates each day and makes the most of the available time.

Like the other centenarians in the room, 101-year-old Virginia C. Smith has lived through political swings, societal changes, life challenges, wars, technological transformations and raised multiple generations.

As a young widow with two young children including a newborn, Smith worked as an addressographer. And while that profession has gone by the wayside, her advice for a long life is a classic.

“I always try to treat other people the way I want to be treated,” Smith said.

She described being 100 as sometimes good and sometimes not too good.

“When you get to 100, you're not going to be the same, but I love every day, because I never thought I'd make it,” Smith said.

Smith’s granddaughter, Robin Baughan, described her grandmother (a student in one of the first Maggie Walker High School graduating classes) as an avid reader and regular churchgoer who is independent and determined.

She stays abreast of current events. Of the current wars around the world, Smith said: “I wish all wars would just stop because, frankly, I don't see that it's doing much good.”

“She's a little old lady, and they're very challenging sometimes. My grandma is determined. She can be determined when she wants to be,” Baughan said. “The classic grandma, that’s what she was. I could always depended on my grandma to show up at any game. Anything we had going on at school, she was right there.”

While Smith faced great hardship, she was a pillar for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She is also a great-great grandmother.

Would her daughter Frances Christmas like to live to 100?

“If I can take care of myself, and I don't have to be dependent on anybody to get me out of the bed, yes,” Christmas said.

Important connections

Catherine McDonald, with the Virginia Center on Aging at Virginia Commonwealth University Health Department of Gerontology, also lauded the honorees at the event while emphasizing the importance of caring for each other and learning stories of centenarians.

Her department has recorded some stories focused on stories about home with a number of elders in Henrico County and beyond.

“Housing and homelessness are a big impetus for doing the oral history project because we all move throughout our lifetime,” she said. “We all might move houses, especially as we get older, but also something we're noticing is that more and more here, in the region, and across the country, is that more and more older adults are, unfortunately, experiencing homelessness for the first time in their lives.”

That reality, she said, is causing a shift in the research and engagement efforts of her department.

Along with the physical changes of turning 100, losing connections and friends who the centenarians may have had and having someone to talk to everyday are some of the key issues they face.

“You might have adult children, but you might not,” Van Aartrijk said. “A lot of centenarians don't have kids, and they live alone. When you live to be 100, it's a blessing in so many ways, but you just have less people in your community, and that includes people you're friends with. There are obviously the physical changes that come with being 100 years old. But some of them will tell you that they feel fine.”

The Span Center offers regular support programs for the elderly and those who care for them. Span Center Friendship Cafes in three Henrico County locations as welcoming places for older adults to gather, enjoy a healthy lunch, meet new people or see familiar faces, and join in fun activities.

The office of Giles, Henrico's advocate for the aging, supports residents 60 and older, along with families and caregivers.

“The office’s resource line is where I talk to individuals and community members who are looking for resources all the time,” she said. “It can be a quick call with a resource over the phone. I might schedule a visit, go help someone do some applications, and to give a better picture of what's out there, and just might need a little bit of ongoing support.”

Giles is also noticing elderly residents who are experiencing increasing challenges finding affordable housing.

“A lot of older adults that are on a fixed income are experiencing rent increases that they just can't afford,” Giles said.

Henrico County Advocate for the Aging upcoming events:

Oct. 1 Henrico’s Fall Prevention Festival

Oct. 6 Generations Together

Oct. 9 Active Aging Week Walk & Fitness Forum

Dina Weinstein is the Citizen’s community vitality reporter and a Report for America corps member, covering housing, health and transportation. Support her work and articles like this one by making a contribution to the Citizen.