She turned 100 years old and still wears hot pink cowboy boots
When she turned 100 years old last Sunday, Evelyn Mitchell became an extraordinary centenarian.
She still lives in her own Columbus home. She still plays bridge. She still writes poems and country songs. And she still walks without assistance in her hot pink cowboy boots.
If she isn't attending Cascade Hills Church, or if she isn't meeting with the local chapter of the Nashville Songwriters Association International, then she might be cooking her favorite roast with black-eyed peas and cornbread, or she might be reading on her Nook or keeping up with Facebook friends on her iPad.
Mitchell was born Oct. 4, 1915, in Atlanta.
"My mother told me it was 1915," she said with chuckle during the Ledger-Enquirer's interview last month, "but I kind of have my doubts."
Creativity
Mitchell was 17 when she married the first of her three husbands, Thomas Laird, who worked for Columbus-based Martin Theaters, which became Carmike Cinemas Inc. Mitchell occasionally worked in concessions at the theaters, but her passion was designing flowers. She did arrangements at the Williamsburg Shoppe and earned the status of a master flower show judge after winning several awards for her designs.
"She's a wonderful, creative person, who loves life and people and lives life to the fullest," Linda Culler, one of her two daughters, said in an email.
Mitchell's two sons are deceased, along with her three husbands. She has four stepsons and two stepdaughters. Seven grandchildren, four stepgrandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. Her first great-great-grandchild was born last month.
In 1989, she self-published a collection of poetry, titled "Poems about People and Ordinary Things," which contains a poem, "Of Buttons and Woes," that garnered third place in a national contest. Asked to read it, she instead showed off her sharp mind and recited it:
When my mother sews a button on,
She means for it to stay
And not to dangle from a string
Like monkeys when they play.
My daddy dons his coat and vest
With confidence and pride,
Because he knows that underneath
No safety pin doth hide.
If all the shirts of all the men
My mother's hands could reach,
And every wife of every man
Knew my mother's firm technique,
Family quarrels she'd also mend
As they live from day to day,
Because when my mother sews a button on,
She means for it to stay.
The poem sums up Mitchell's philosophy of life.
"She always told me if there was any friction between myself and others," said daughter Dottie Boyd, "work it out and get over it quickly."
Mitchell put it this way: "Don't worry about things that you can't do anything about. That's what I've always tried to do. It's not always easy."
She expressed such wisdom in her poem "That Extra Mile," from her 2012 self-published collection, "Poems about Life in General & Lyrics for Songs."
Life is but a journey,
A road we travel until the end.
We were not meant to know
What we will find
As we go around each bend.
Sometimes the road is smooth
And we will have a good day.
Sometimes the road gets rocky
And it's hard to find our way.
If we can go that extra mile
For a stranger or someone you love,
Your day will be much brighter
And God will smile down on you from above.
Independence
If she didn't marry so young, Mitchell said, "I think I would have liked to be in a show business career."
When she lived in Americus, Mitchell participated in the Rotary Club's shows. She played the role of Lola in "Damn Yankees."
"By the time we finished practicing," she said, "it was almost like a Broadway show."
No longer singing in public and no longer driving are among the few compromises Mitchell has made with her age.
"I'm not crazy about not being able to drive," she said, "because I like to jump into the car and go where I want to, but you reach the time when you realize your reflexes are not as good as they used to be."
As for her top tip for a long life, Mitchell said, "Eat a good breakfast" -- which means, she added, bacon and grits but not soda and candy.
"I'm independent right now," she said, "but I'm not sure how much longer it will last."
Until then, Mitchell intends to be as self-sufficient and helpful as possible.
"I've always waited on myself and others, too, if I can," she said.
Christie Connor, a granddaughter, gave her those hot pink cowboy boots for Christmas one year.
"I can walk through a store, and people stop me, wanting to know where I got these hot pink boots," Mitchell said. "I have really enjoyed them, and they've become sort of a symbol with me."
Connor also gave Mitchell a welcome mat that declares, "Unless you're God or George Strait, wipe your feet."
Strait's autographed photo hangs in Mitchell's home, a 99th birthday present from a songwriting friend. And the country music star's image ended up on one of her 100th birthday cakes.
Party
About 175 folks, representing 12 states, were on the guest list for the party at the Hilton Garden Inn.
Son-in-law John Culler told the gathering, in the 60 years he has known Mitchell, "I have never heard her say one bad thing about anybody."
Son-in-law Gene Boyd cracked up the crowd when he countered, "The only people she gets onto is Linda and Dottie. She gets those girls straight because she's the head of that kitchen."
Why she reached the century mark isn't a mystery, John insists.
"She's 100 going on 18," he said. "That's exactly what it is. She's had this youthful outlook about life and living, and she's interested in things. I have never seen Evelyn as an old person.
John also appreciates Mitchell's unconditional support and love. As he and Linda struggled to find their way in life, he said, Mitchell never made suggestions but always asked how she could help.
"I know she wanted to tear her hair out," he said.
While Linda went back to school, Mitchell took care of their three boys, John said.
"That was the greatest thing she could have done for us," he said, "because that gave Linda a chance to graduate, then Linda could work and I could go to school. It changed everything. If it hadn't been for Evelyn, it wouldn't have happened. That's the kind of person she is. That's the way she's always been."
Mike Stevens, her Sunday school teacher at Cascade Hills, thought when he met Mitchell 17 years ago, "I've never seen anything like this in my life. I mean, just takes over the room. Some folks are just like bringing sunshine."
Then he strummed his guitar, broke into song, and the guests sang along, "You are My Sunshine." They also sang "Happy Birthday."
Stevens presented Mitchell gifts from the Grand Ole Opry and the Elvis & Hollywood Legends Museum. He finished by singing Mitchell's "Country Heaven" song, which she co-wrote with Mike Matthews at age 96.
Here's the chorus:
I'm in country heaven,
And I'm doing all right.
I like to get together
With old friends of mine.
Don't worry about me.
I'm where I belong,
Up in country heaven,
Singing country songs.
"She wanted George Strait," Stevens said. "George is tied up, so I'm George Strait after taxes."
Gene concluded the pre-meal ceremony with a prayer:
"Lord, thank you so much for Ms. Mitchell. Thank you, Lord, for her integrity, her character. We thank you for her loyalty and her friendship over the years. We also pray, Lord, today that all her friends here are going to be able to express their appreciation and love for her, because I know she loves them back."
Mark Rice, 706-576-6272. Follow him on Twitter@MarkRiceLE.
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Click on this story at www.ledger-enquirer.com to view excerpts from our interview with Evelyn Mitchell.
This story was originally published October 9, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "She turned 100 years old and still wears hot pink cowboy boots ."