Rosetta Stone celebrated her 104th birthday this year, having been born on July 20, 1920. Her family believes that her life is a true representation of the strength of resilience and the fulfillment of a life lived to the fullest.
There are those who believe that she comes from a family of great strength and resilience. Her father, Arthur James, lived to the impressive age of 91 before passing away, while her mother, Myrtle Manning, lived a full life and passed away at the remarkable age of 104.
Growing up on a farm, Rosetta takes great pride in her roots.
Stone reminisces about his childhood, where he and his family lived outside the city and his father tended to a large garden every year. Despite living on a white man’s property for a significant period of time, Stone’s father successfully grew cotton and corn, producing an abundance of food from the garden.
Growing up in a racially segregated society, Rosetta has vivid memories of her school days where she never rode a school bus until she reached the eighth grade.
Rosetta’s pursuit of becoming a nurse started at Paul Quinn College, where she began her higher education. Although the college did not have a nursing program at the time, she continued to follow her passion for nursing elsewhere.
She embarked on a train journey to Washington state, marking the beginning of her unwavering commitment to serving others.
Rosetta encountered her late spouse, Henry, a veteran of World War II, in Washington. They were married for 50 years and had eight children together – six sons and two daughters – before Henry passed away at the age of 88.
At present, she has three children who have survived her, comprising of two sons and a daughter. Additionally, she has a multitude of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.
Throughout its existence, Rosetta has borne witness to the ebb and flow of empires, the leaps and bounds of scientific and technological progress, and the ongoing fight for social justice and equality.
She experienced numerous personal triumphs and challenges throughout her journey, including raising a family of eight during wartime and adjusting to the swift pace of change in the present era.
Out of her eight children, three of them are still living to this day. Witnessing her family expand to three generations of grandchildren in her bloodline has been a source of joy for her.
According to Rosetta, it is her faith that has been instrumental in keeping her alive for so long.
According to Rosetta, her top priority in life is to give God the first place in everything she does. She firmly believes in putting Jesus first, regardless of any given situation or weather condition, even if it’s freezing cold outside.
Only three days this year has she missed attending church, expressing her love for her religion and sharing it with her family.
Throughout their lives, her children have been inspired by her unique perspective on life.
“My mother was an incredibly loving person. Anyone who had the pleasure of knowing her, including those outside of our family, adored her for her kind and patient nature. As her eldest living son, I can attest to her greatness as a person,” shared Fred Maidon.”
Stone stays updated with the latest happenings in her local community and around the globe, given the constantly evolving world we live in.
Sometimes, it can be challenging for her, as explained by her son.
Fred expressed that his wife is not very familiar with many politicians except for Biden. He stated that she may remember some politicians from years ago, but overall her knowledge is limited.
Rosetta expressed gratitude for being able to witness another year of life and celebrate this momentous occasion with her loved ones.
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