Laura Roberts Grant is thankful to be 100
Laura Roberts Grant stays active by dancing and enjoys spending time with family and friends, She's thankful to be 100 this month. Photos by Janet Sutton / Neuse News
By Janet Sutton
When it comes to real-life experience Laura Roberts Grant has plenty of it, on Nov. 21 she celebrated her 100th birthday and she has a lot to be thankful for.
Grant, originally from La Grange, loves two things: people and dancing. As a child she attended a two-room school, where she met her teacher Miss Usher who taught her how to do the Charleston dance. The joy of dancing followed her into adulthood and remains with Grant, when she attends the Kinston Senior Citizen's Dance.
Janet Sutton / Neuse News
She's been a board member of the senior dance club for 28 years and the group recently presented her with a plaque. She rarely misses a Tuesday night of rhythmic footwork and fellowship. It's been a special month for the centurion, who's a lifetime member of Trinity United Methodist Church, where she was honored with a luncheon and 100 rose presentation. In addition to two birthday parties, she received lots of calls and well wishes.
Grant is not one to waste time and do nothing. In the 1940's she and her late husband Charles ran a store and farmed 50 acres of land for 45 years while raising their four children. After he passed away 30 years ago, she decided to travel more and keep herself active. She thinks there are two people you need to know best, your preacher and your doctor.
"One of her favorite statements is, if she calls the doctor, she's just calling to let him know she's coming in," JR Grant, Laura’s son said. "She don't bother them unless she's sick and that's very, very seldom," he said.
“I go to the doctor twice a year,” she said.
"And sees the preacher every Sunday," JR said.
To stay healthy, she did water aerobics and has never drunk or smoked. Her favorite food is vegetables and although she doesn't cook or bake for Thanksgiving anymore, she still has fond memories of the holiday.
"We had turkey, ham, all gosh, all kinds of vegetables," said Grant. She remembers this time of year as a time of gathering and enjoying each other's company. She recalls getting up at 4 am and making apple jacks to give to family, church members and others.
"Oh, Lordy, I used to cook apple jacks and carry them to folks in the neighborhood," Grant said. "I call them and tell them to come get them, whichever, I thought they could do. If I knew they couldn't come, I carried them to them," she said.
Once her eyesight began to deteriorate, she stopped making apple jacks, stopped sewing and doing crafts. But despite these things, her approach to life is quite simple.
"Stay busy, do something," Grant said. "You sit around, you'll go to nothing."
