Shady Lawn resident turns 102
Published 11:47 am Tuesday, September 30, 2014
![Mary Givens celebrates her 102nd birthday Friday at Shady Lawns Nursing Home. (Justin Sellers/The Vicksburg Post)](https://www.vicksburgpost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2014/09/092914-102-birthday-js1MAIN.jpg)
Mary Givens celebrates her 102nd birthday Friday at Shady Lawns Nursing Home. (Justin Sellers/The Vicksburg Post)
Wearing a crown and waving a wand, Mary Givens, 102, was the center of attention Friday during the monthly birthday parties held for residents at Shady Lawn Health and Rehabilitation.
“Don’t put me too high on a pedestal,” Givens said, as a crown was placed on her head and cameras flashed.
Givens said she was born in Louisiana, but was raised by her grandparents, who lived in Vicksburg.
Still fit for a woman that became a centenarian two years ago, Givens is still capable of taking care of her personal needs.
“She washes and combs her own hair, makes her bed up and propels her own wheel chair,” said Deborah Hughs, the activity coordinator for Shady Lawn.
“She also works puzzles and sews,” said Hughs.
Givens was born in 1912, when the U.S. only consisted of 47 states. It was also the same year the Titanic sank and when Woodrow Wilson’s victory over President William Taft and former President Theodore Roosevelt for the White House.
Hughs said she had had no children, but had outlived two husbands.
Asked if she had liked one better than the other her reply was, “I done good with all of them.”
Givens said she did not prescribe to any particular diet to enhance her longevity — she just ate anything she was given and said she plans to keep on living as long “as the Lord will carry me.”
The documented oldest living person is 116.
Misao Okawa was born on March 5, 1898, and she lives in Japan.
Gertrude Weaver, who lives in the U.S. is the second-oldest living person. She was born on July 4, 1898.