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Playing on 'in triple overtime'

By CHANDRA BROADWATER
Published January 24, 2007

BROOKSVILLE - Winonah Greene says she has lived each day as if it were her last.

But the 101-year-old doesn't credit her long life to anything she's done.

"I don't know how this happened," Greene said Tuesday at a celebration for her and two other Hernando County centenarians. "I just lived my life as truthful as possible. I've always tried to help people. And I'm always thankful to wake up and see the next day come."

While stopping to smile before she spoke, Greene adjusted the velvet teal track suit jacket she wore and the deep pink rose corsage pinned to it.

With a birthday on Jan. 13, she was officially the oldest person at the party held in the lobby of SunTrust Bank's Brooksville office.

Surrounded by family while sitting at tables of their own, 100-year-olds Vera Wentworth and Joseph Menella were also honored. A fourth centenarian, 105-year-old Maria O'Brien, was not able to attend.

The event is hosted annually by the Hernando County Commission, SunTrust Bank/Nature Coast and the Hernando Elder Affairs Council. The 4-year-old program recently won one of three national awards of excellence handed out this year by the National Association of Counties.

The party is modeled after one a SunTrust branch in Sun City Center has held for more than 10 years.

Along with other party goodies, centenarians received a cake to share at the party, along with one of their own to take home. They also took home corsages or boutonnieres, pictures and official certificates of commemoration.

"It's just fascinating to hear from their lips about the things they've lived through and done," said Jean Rags, county Health and Human Services director. Rags helps organize the event each year and interviews the honorees.

"The history that they've been a part of is incredible," she said. "They've lived through what we read about in history books."

This year's group of centenarians have lived through 18 U.S. presidents, saw the start and end of Prohibition, lived through the Great Depression, witnessed two world wars and saw the rise of television and the Internet.

Collectively, they share 408 years of life.

"When you reach the age of 70, they say you're in overtime," said Frankie Burnett, the vice mayor of Brooksville, who addressed the centenarians along with other officials. "I think you guys are in triple overtime."

For Greene, who still has close ties with her church back in Philadelphia, where she spent most of her life, keeping busy in the kitchen has also been important.

The former home economics teacher, who also later worked as a Veterans Administration clerk, likes to tinker around the stove in the Spring Hill home she shares with her daughter, 63-year-old Patricia Jones.

"I can't keep her out," Jones said, laughing.

Greene smiled again.

Chandra Broadwater can be reached at cbroadwater@sptimes.com or 352 848-1432.

[Last modified January 24, 2007, 08:13:17]