Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Campbell Sees Third Century, Turns 102

Birthdays  we all have them and most of us would rather forget about them.

It seems all birthdays do is remind us of the passage of the years and of our aging.

Another birthday was celebrated Saturday, June 10, at the Gurdon City Hall community room, and this was a special one.

It was special because the birthday girl was a 102 years old, looking to move into her third century of life.

Ellen Bragg Campbell was born in 1898, at the end of what history called the "Gay 90s." She lived through the entire 20th century, with all its wars and technological advances and now begins taking her first steps into the 21st century.

Family, friends and well-wishers gathered with her Saturday to celebrate her 102nd birthday.

The community room was gaily decorated with balloons and flowers, with more than 50 people on hand for the festivities.

The party began with Campbell being wheeled into the room and placed at the head table.

"I'm glad to be here today," she said, "but I wasn't sure I'd be able to Wednesday, because I didn't feel well.

Campbell joked with the gathering, calling several of the men present her boys, saying she bought one from his parents. This drew much laughter from those in the audience.

Naccaman Williams gave Campbell a basket filled with bananas and orange slices, saying he'd always brought her orange slices.

She was also given a bouquet of flowers at the end of the reading of "Give Me My Flowers."

Campbell thanked everyone for the gifts and said, "Don't bother my fruit," again filling the room with laughter from her still sharp sense of humor.

The party opened with "Amazing Grace," Campbell's favorite hymn and the Mt. Canaan Church Choir performing.

Bishop Horace Satterwhite followed with a good blues rendition of "Take It To The Savior," and delivered a message to the revelers.

Satterwhite, 93, said he had come along with his cousin, though she is older than he, but both are real churchmen  people in Christ.

"If you're not a churchman," he said, "you can hang it up. She loves the church and has gone for years and years."

Campbell, he said, now resides at a Prescott nursing home. Satterwhite injected his own humor in saying he has never heard of her being drunk or going to jail.

Getting serious again, he said, she has followed the practice of loving one another regardless of color, has no enemies and always does what's right without putting on a front.

"I feel I need to be greeting my home church," Williams said. "I feel like I'm in church."

The party did have the feel of a revival tent meeting as all of the speakers were ministers and church choirs provided the entertainment.

Williams praised those who put the celebration together for the work they put in.

He said Campbell has lived in three centuries and the celebration was needed while she's here to enjoy it.

Williams thanked the residents of Gurdon for watching over Campbell when he wasn't around, making sure she was taken care of .

She has touched the lives of many during her long life, he said, with all being blessed and fortunate "Aunt Ellen" was around.

The party, he added, wasn't just for Campbell, but for everyone who had a chance to know her as well.

Johnny Harris, pastor of Mt. Canaan Baptist Church, said this was a celebration no one would experience again in their life.

"We're here to pay tribute to Mrs. Ellen Campbell," he said, "and it's appropriate for us to come and honor her."

Harris said Campbell's sense of humor is legendary and she tends to get what she wants.

When she was placed in the nursing home, she jokingly said if the nurses didn't treat her right she'd hit them with her walking stick.He said she's been working on her obituary and funeral program for 15 years, but is still here.

Campbell, he continued, is concerned about missionary work, and has done both state and national level work in the area.

She's also concerned, he said, about what goes on in the church and has touched a lot of lives along the way, as was evidenced by the party.

"She loves the Lord and each of us here," Harris said. "She says what she means, even though it's not always tactful. But people love her because of what she means to them.

"It's been a blessing to know her."

Floyd Crawford, concluded the speaking part of the ceremonies by reminding all living in three centuries is no small accomplishment in itself. "We should all hope to live so long."

He said it used to be an insult not to walk part of the way home with a guest when they came to visit. It was called going "piece of the way," with them and showed the bond of friendship and caring involved.

"Thank you for going piece of the way with all of us," he told Campbell, "toward our heavenly home."

During the last seven years, he said, each time he visited Campbell she would make the statement it would probably be the last time and she wouldn't be here when he returned.

His response was she couldn't leave just yet, but Crawford, as he wrapped up his speech, told Campbell, "Anytime you want to stack your shovel and be with the Lord, you can."

Campbell also received a certificate from President and First Lady Bill and Hillary Clinton on reaching this milestone, along with other gifts.