106 and counting: Ora Charles takes it one day at a time

Ora Charles wanted to hear "One Day At A Time" for her birthday, and so a staffer at Glen Oaks Convalescent Center rushed to a nearby computer to look up the lyrics on the Internet and print out copies so that the crowd could sing along.

It was a small gesture, but a measure of how special Tuesday was; after all, your 106th birthday doesn't come along every day.

---

---

Glen Oaks personnel believe Mrs. Charles is probably the county's oldest resident, although that hadn't been officially confirmed.

WTVF-TV meteorologist Ron Howes, who visited Mrs. Charles for her 102nd birthday in 2006, returned this year, bringing flowers and good wishes. Bedford County Mayor Eugene Ray proclaimed March 16 as "Ora Charles Day," and State Sen. Jim Tracy could not be present but sent a Tennessee state flag along with a letter of good wishes, which was read aloud by Glen Oaks administrator Colin Chesley. Mrs. Charles' doctor, Howard Rupard, was also on hand, along with family members, well-wishers and other Glen Oaks residents.

The singing of "One Day At A Time" was led by Elijah Collard, who met Mrs. Charles when he and his family started entertaining the residents at Glen Oaks; they come every Tuesday night. He and Mrs. Charles are separated by just a day less than a half-century; Collard's 56th birthday was Monday.

Mrs. Charles moved into Glen Oaks in 2004, rooming with her younger sister, Virginia Pendergrass, until Mrs. Pendergrass' death in 2008.

"I can't see good, I can't hear good, I can't walk at all," she told a visitor on Tuesday, but she was still alert enough to enjoy the celebration and greet visitors.

When one visitor asked her how she was, she responded "pretty, as usual."

Mrs. Charles was the daughter of Newt and Salomie "Lomie" Shearin, born in Halls Mill. She attended Moulder School and grew up on the farm until the family moved to town so her father could take a job in a cotton mill. She married Robert Garrett "Jack" Charles at 22 and stayed married for 36 years. The couple had one surviving child and one stillborn child. She never remarried after Mr. Charles' death.

According to Glen Oaks personnel, Mrs. Charles has clearer memories of happy times, such as a trip to California, than of the depression and two World Wars. She stresses the importance of her faith in getting her through the past century.