Jesse Carlton Crenshaw, 101, and lIa Lou Richardson Crenshaw, 96, of Ephesus, Ga., celebrated their 80th wedding anniversary at Higgins Hospital in Bremen with family, friends and staff of Tanner Health System. Numerous well-wishers dropped by to congratulate the couple who were married on Jan. 29, 1933. He was 21, and she was 16.
“We have always been nice to each other, and never hit one another,” said Mrs. Crenshaw about their long life together.
“Paw Paw drove a one-horse road cart to get married,” said 71-year-old daughter, Colleen Crenshaw Workman, relating one of her mom’s favorite stories. “Paw Paw stopped to pick up Maw Maw at her house. When they came out of the house, the mule that pulled the cart ran away. They had to catch the mule before going on the preacher’s house to get married.”
The Crenshaws were married at the east central Alabama home of William Spradlin, pastor of the Napoleon Church of Christ, where they became the congregation’s oldest members.
“Paw Paw drove their car to church services in Napoleon up until a few weeks ago,” said Mrs. Workman. “He pulled their camper, and they camped with family and friends until recently.”
lIa said her romance with Carlton began about two years before their marriage.
“He was going with another girl. All of a sudden, when we moved close by, he just quit, and went to going with me. I just liked the way he walked.”
Carlton said, “I liked the looks of her pretty well, I guess; she looked pretty good then.”
The couple has always liked to walk together, holding hands. The Crenshaw Trail, near their Ephesus home, was created in 2009 to honor Carlton and lIa.
“We never fight,” said lIa. “Sometimes we get fretted with one another, but it don’t last long. He just don’t talk enough. He thinks I talk too much.”
Daughter Claris Crenshaw Brown, 68, acknowledged that “They never argued or fussed at the children.”
Another daughter, 58-year-old Terrie Crenshaw Kidd, said, “A lot of couples now do their own thing. Mother and daddy were never like that.”
Carlton was born on Oct. 23, 1911, near Woodland, Ala. He worked at a sawmill, drove a lumber truck, and didn’t retire until age 85. lIa was born in Fredonia, Ala., on July 3, 1916. She stayed at home mostly, working only a short while at a Franklin, Ga., clothing shop that made baby outfits.
In addition to their three daughters, the Crenshaws have a 77-year-old son, Denzil Crenshaw, who is a U.S. Army veteran.
All four Crenshaw children attended the anniversary party, as did several of their nine grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. The Crenshaws also have two great-great-grandchildren.
Granddaughter Donna Alvis said, “Maw Maw wanted to do something nice for the students at Ephesus Elementary School. So she went to the school recently and gave a dollar bill individually to each of the 170 children.”
At the reception, lIa and the kinfolks beamed when she was presented with an oversized thank you card signed by all the students.
Higgins General Hospital of Bremen hosted the reception for the Crenshaws. The couple undergo physical therapy at Higgins in the “Swing Bed” program – a lower level of intensive care following hospital treatment.
Director of Nursing B.J. Brock said, “It’s wonderful. I don’t think I’ll ever get to witness another 80th wedding anniversary. It’s their goal to get to go back home. That’s what ‘Swing Bed’ is all about.”
Rehabilitation Operations Manager Regina Vines said, “I feel privileged to be a part of such a special time in their lives.”
Vines echoed Brock’s feeling about the Swing Bed plan: “It’s getting people back to active lives.”
In February 2012, President Obama praised a Las Vegas couple who were to celebrate their 79th anniversary last April, while the Crenshaws were already celebrating number 79 two months earlier.
When asked how long they want to stay married, Carlton and lIa joked that five more years ought to be enough.
Great-grandson Dallis Jackson, 16, of Carrollton was asked which “Paw Paw and Maw Maw” story he liked best.
“There are too many to choose from,” he said. “I like ‘em all.”
Son of Loretta and Calvin McPherson. Although he is a resident of Fairfield Plantation in Villa Rica, Ga, The facility bus children with disabilities in the Carroll County from schools to his location for training. It is devastating that this organization fueled by a pedophile has not been detected by the community yet. The community of Ohio did not have the opportunity to defend themselves against this pedophile and previous owner of Morning Glories Daycare. Unfortunately, Lathan Access Technologies, has been applauded as a pillar of the community. The great reward is the Carroll Advocacy Center in the same neighborhood. I feel that this organization will set a clear message to the children, the community and other states when it rids the community of this deception.
Reginald Lathan Sr., my father and abuser, raped, drugged, beat and enslaved me and others without compassion. February 18th, 2013 he left another message threatening children that he has victimized. He has made false police reports with the intent to scorn the children he has molested recently. For the past 3 months our lives have been a remembrance of the lifetime of devastation caused by Reginald Lathan Sr. Children and others involved have received numerous threats of harassment from Reginald Lathan Sr and his employee Rolisha Lathan, of RoeLathan company. It is rewarding to see that the Oak Mountain Academy, along with other schools will receive training on signs of child abuse and Pedophilia behavior.
Reginald Lathan Sr is very familiar with the students and staff of Oak Mountain Academy. Unfortunately, it has gone undetected that he is their very threat. There is a child that understands the harm he has caused to Oak Mountain Academy. That child is a student there and also one of many victims left in silence. Unsurprisingly Reginald Lathan has a child in his care, my brother, left alone with a rapist of young boys and girls. My brother is left on the property with Calvin and Loretta McPherson, whom were told 25 years ago by a young girl being rapped by my father. My brother is left with his family and employee of Reginald Lathan Sr that has detailed the corruption of keeping secrets to safeguard the estate.
The average pedophile will molest 354 young boys and girls in their lifetime. Reginald Lathan Sr has based his career around hundreds of children yearly, for the past decade. The community has the right to protect their children. The community has the right to be armed with the facts. I compel anyone to verify the facts of my statements. The documentation is overwhelming. The community need to understand why haven't Reginald Lathan Sr been restrained from their children.
For the past 3 months there has been numerous reports made. Although the threat of our children's well being has not been a priority to all. The Child Advocacy Center is the first of its kind in this community and I hope Reginald Lathan Sr is the last pedophile to be applauded as a pillar of the community.
One million dollars is nothing to One million voices.
Our children are priceless.
Our children are not for sale.
tacewhocares.wordpress.com
"Thru A Child's Eyes. WHO CARES?" Sharnae Lathan
sl@tacewhocares.mygbiz.com