A century of memories

By Aaron Lee

Published: July 16, 2008

Edith Jones of Monroe turned a century old on July 12. In honor of her milestone we asked our online readers, “What would you ask a 100-year-old?” We took those questions to Jones, and below is what she had to say.

About Edith Jones: She spent her childhood in Indiana and moved to Amherst County after finishing school at Virginia Seminary (now the Virginia University of Lynchburg). She started her career as a teacher in 1931, in a one-room schoolhouse in Monroe called Rocky Seat. She taught in the county until 1973. She has attended Mt. Shiloh Baptist Church in Monroe since she moved to the county. “I have no regrets in my 100 years,” Jones said. “I’m appreciative (of life).”

Is there a historical day that stands out in your mind? (Submitted by “islandgirl")

There are two. Jones was a little girl when World War I broke out. At that time, she lived in an area of Fort Wayne, Ind., that also was home to many Germans immigrants. Her school was filled predominantly with German students, and Jones was required to learn German. She was one of less than a handful of blacks attending the school.
There was also a time when President Woodrow Wilson passed through Fort Wayne. “We all went down (to the train station) and we could shake his hand.” And did she shake his hand? “Oh, yes.”

Who was the best president in your lifetime? Why? (Submitted by “ZIGMITCHELL")

Franklin D. Roosevelt. “He helped the people coming out of the Depression and he gave the young people a chance, too. He organized things in order to bring people out of the Depression.”

What’s you favorite memory? (Submitted by “cldudley")

A Christmas tree she remembers from when she was 7 years old. “We had this big Christmas tree and my mother had candles on it … and my mother allowed them to be lit … all over this big tree…. (But they didn’t stay lit long) I guess for about five or ten minutes she (Jones’ mother) let me sit there with that Christmas tree. And I sat there on the piano stool with the Christmas tree and all those beautiful lights.”

What do you think the next 100 years will be like? (Submitted by “ZIGMITCHELL")

“I can say what I hope it’ll be like. I think this country will be all right if it gets itself on an even keel … The United States, they’re leaders … (but) everybody else has their ideas, too … and they have to realize if the countries would be peaceful and remember that everybody else has a freedom of speech, I guess … advancing is all right, you want to be a leader, but that leadership is not to “down” anyone else.”

What do you credit with living to be 100 years old? (Submitted by “islandgirl")

“‘Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy and wise’ … (well) healthy, I don’t know about the wise.”