By Staff
Senior Living
(This week The Atmore Advance spotlights 96-year-old Lavon Brooks of Canoe. Lavon enjoys eating peach cobbler and watching his favorite TV shows, the "Wheel of Fortune" and county gospel singings.)
Q: When and where were you born?
A: I was born in Castleberry on March 21, 1911.
Q: Who were your parents?
A: William R. Brooks and Daisy Brooks.
Q: Where were your parents from originally?
A: Repton.
Q: Do you have any brothers or sisters?
A: Not any living. I'm the last one in the family.
Q: How many siblings did you have?
A: I had five brothers and two sisters.
Q: Where did you attend high school and college?
A: I went to Repton for a while and went to high school close to Lenox and finished at Rose Hill.
Q: Do you do a lot of traveling?
A: Not a whole lot.
Q: Have you traveled in the past?
A: I've been to Texas and Louisiana. I have a daughter down in Florida.
I just came back from Tuscaloosa from attending my great grandson, Steven's, wedding.
Q: Where was your favorite place to visit.
A: I reckon Texas.
Q: What jobs have you held?
A: I worked at T.R. Miller Mill Company for about 13 years. I was with oil drillers for about two years. I was in the baking business for 25 years. I worked with a baking business out of Montgomery. I had a chicken house and ran a cleaners in Montgomery.
Q: When did you move to Canoe?
A: I was raised around Brewton, went to Montgomery for 32 years and then came back to Brewton. I've been here since 2002.
Q: Did you ever marry?
A: I never was single. I married Bertha Jane Jackson, we lived together for 69 years. I got married in East Brewton by a Methodist pastor, Brother Smiley.
Q: Do you have any children or grandchildren?
A: I have seven children, three boys and four girls. My sons are Robert Lavon, John Wayne and Michael Byron, "Mickey." My daughters are Betty Sue, Donna, Jane and Lois.
Robert and Mickey live in Montgomery and Johnny lives in Vinton, La. Donna lives in Brownsville, Texas, Jane lives in Gainsville, Fla. and Betty Sue and Lois live in Atmore.
I have somewhere around 76 grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren.
Q: Where do you attend church?
A: Unity Baptist Church.
Q: What keeps you busy these days?
A: I like to go to church and go around visiting. I like to watch my favorite TV programs, "Wheel of Fortune" and the country gospel singings.
Annie Brown, my caretaker of four years, keeps me busy doing one thing or the other and keeps me out of trouble.
Q: What's your favorite food?
A: Right now it's grits. I love pizza and chicken. I like peach cobblers and ice cream.
Q: What's the most exciting thing you've ever done?
A: I recently traveled through Louisiana and Texas to visit my children and grandchildren. It was exciting because I hadn't gone in a long time.
Q: What advice would you like to give people on staying healthy?
A: I don't drink and I don't smoke and I eat plenty of oatmeal.
(If you would like to recommend a senior to be spotlighted please contact Adrienne McKenzie at 368-2123 or e-mail her at lifestyles@atmoreadvance.com)