LONG POND —
A 99-year-old Long Pond woman is so devoted to her church, Lake Park Church of Christ, she didn’t hesitate to step into her neighbor’s beer company truck a few years ago to get a ride to a weekday service when the need arose. Of course, she got some teasing from Minister Marvin Greene.
“I saved one for you,” came the reply from feisty Bonnie Grubbs, lovingly called “Aunt Bonnie” by the congregation.
Formerly of Bell Buckle, Tenn., she moved to Long Pond to live with Mary George and the late Joe George 12 years ago.
“She is my stepmother’s aunt, and my father asked me if we would take care of her ...,” Mary said. “She does remarkably well. She gets up every morning, puts on her make-up and jewelry and cooks her breakfast. She goes to church three times a week, and we eat out.”
Aunt Bonnie also enjoys tending all the flowers in the home, including watering the lovely ferns on the front porch and the African violets.
She does much of the laundry and ironed until she broke her arm. Although she’s been to the emergency room twice, she has never spent a night in a hospital, Mary said.
Aunt Bonnie, who will reach the century mark on Sept. 20, will be honored at two birthday parties, one given by George and her children on Sept. 15 at the Lake Park Civic Center and the other by her church on Sept. 16. She will arrive in style at the Saturday party in a red Cadillac convertible driven by Ralph Russell. On Sept. 20, she will visit the Lake Park Elementary classroom of Mary’s daughter-in-law, Sherri George, where the students will learn about the centenarian and sing “Happy Birthday” to her.
Aunt Bonnie has had some memorable birthday celebrations, such as her motorcycle ride around Long Pond with next-door neighbor Gary Nowell on her 97th birthday, donations in her honor to her church’s building fund — instead of presents — on her 95th birthday, and a food drive for her church at her party on her 90th.
An avid Braves fan, Aunt Bonnie enjoyed watching the Atlanta team with Mary’s father, Bill Steiner, and Mary’s husband. On her 96th birthday, Mary and her children took her to a Braves baseball game and the Aquarium, and in March of this year, they took her to the Braves’ spring training in Orlando.
Although she has no children of her own, she dotes on George’s four grandchildren, ages 6-12.
“They are just like my own,” Aunt Bonnie said. “There’s a little girl in church (Kylie Greene) who kisses and hugs me every Sunday,” she added.
“That’s what I live for — the children.”
A native of Belfast, Tenn., Aunt Bonnie was one of 10 children — six girls and four boys — born to Robert and Nora Williams. She moved to Bell Buckle with her family when she was 8 years old. She was an avid square dancer in her earlier years.
“We all had fun,” Aunt Bonnie said. “No one ever went to bed mad.”
Aunt Bonnie still has that even temperament today.
“She’s extremely kind and loving,” Mary said. “I’ve seen her put out with me but never mad.”
“There’s no sense in getting mad,” Aunt Bonnie replied.
Aunt Bonnie’s life has not been without its challenges. She had to quit school in the ninth grade when her mom got sick. She took care of her mom for two years before she died at 67.
Aunt Bonnie’s work experience includes clerking at a general grocery store, working for a silver dollar a day.
“I saved the silver dollars for three or four months and gave them to the neighbors’ children, and a whole lot of them still have (the silver dollars),” she said.
Aunt Bonnie married Jim Grubbs, a farmer, and worked in the fields herself and milked cows.
“We farmed all of our life until the early ’70s when we moved to town to take care of my sister (the late Bessie Arnold).”
Mary attributes Aunt Bonnie’s longevity to “hard work, good genes and clean living.”
Aunt Bonnie’s husband died around 1980 after about 48 years of marriage, and she moved in with the Georges in 2000.
“She was a very giving, caring, nurturing person,” Mary said. “It was time for someone to take care of her.”
Aunt Bonnie is appreciative of the time she has lived with the Georges.
“I’m blessed,” she said. “Mary has been so good to me. Everybody loves me and I love everybody. I’ve had a happy life.”
Lark Russell, one of the members at Aunt Bonnie’s church, called her “a true Southern lady.”
“She may be small in statue, but her presence in our congregation is huge. She not only does a card ministry, but I received a beautiful apron she had made. It is a cherished gift. Having her as a friend and Christian example has been so rewarding and a wonderful blessing.”
Through a card ministry, Aunt Bonnie sends cards to everyone at Lake Park Church of Christ on their birthdays and anniversaries, and sympathy cards when the occasion warrants.
“I love them,” Aunt Bonnie said. “I love to do it.”
Lake Park Church of Christ member Ralph Russell said Aunt Bonnie attends all the services and functions and is always on time, often arriving early.
“(She) always has a beautiful smile and a warm greeting. She truly loves God and it shows in her every action. Aunt Bonnie’s daily activities are a living testimony as a Christian.”
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