By By MaryClaire Foster
(This week The Atmore Advance spotlights 71-year-old Bonnie Madison who enjoys visiting the Atmore SAIL Center and visiting with friends.)
Q: Whan and where were you born?
A: I was born in Atmore on May 23, 1937.
Q: Who were your parents?
A: My parents were Ernest and Nina Purvis, but my grandparents Strode and Florence Purvis raised me.
Q.What did your parents do for a living?
A: They were farmers. They farmed cotton mostly and had velvet beans. We had 20 acres of peaches. Everyone loved our peaches. People would come from Georgia to buy our peaches. We asked why theycame all this way and they said they didn’t grown them like that there.
Q: Do ou have any brothers or sisters?
A: I have one brother and three sisters. My brother is Melvin Purvis. My sisters ae Lenna Langford, Eleanor Purvis and Carolyn Young.
Q: Where did you attend school?
A: I attended here in Atmore.
Q: Did you do a lot of traveling?
A: Not while I was young, we were country kids. After I was married I went to Arizona, California and Puerto Rico.
Q: Where did you work?
A: I worked at Monsanto for 37 years. I was the first woman.
Q: Where have you lived?
A: Here and Texas
Q: What do you like most about Atmore?
A: The people are friendly and good. People here love and help each other.
Q: Did you ever marry?
A: Yes.
Q:What is your spouse’s name?
A: I was married to James Charles Madison.
Q. Do you have any children?
A: I have one son, Charles Wade Madison.
Q: Do you have any grandchildren?
A: Yes, I have two grandsons, Dakota and Wyatt.
Q:Where do you attend church?
A: I attend Calvary Baptist.
Q: What keeps you busy these days?
A:My grandchildren and my friends.
Q: What is your favoriitefood?
A:Vegetables and sweets.
Q: Do you like to cook?
A: No.
Q: What advice would you give people on staying healthy?
A: Live right, help people and be in church. We need God more than anything.
(If you would like to recommend a senior to be spotlighted please contact the Atmore Advance at 368-2123 or e-mail us at newsroom@atmoreadvance.com)