This centenarian is toast of the town in Yeadon
YEADON » With a threepiece band playing tunes on her front lawn that was decorated with baskets of balloons, thanks to her neighbors, Mary Hairston of Yeadon celebrated her 100th birthday on Jan.
7. The Yeadon police and Yeadon fire departments formed a caravan down Fern Street in front of her home, joined by friends, neighbors, church members and relatives.
“I really enjoyed the celebration,” the 100-year-old guest of honor said, afterwards. “I was surprised.”
To mark the special day and honor the new centenarian, Yeadon Mayor Rohan Hepkins proclaimed Thursday, Jan. 7, as “Mary Hairston Day” in the borough and presented the proclamation to the
100-year-old honoree.
Mary Lillian Redd Hairston was born in 1921. She was raised on a farm in Martinsville, Va. Hairston is the second child of five children and is the only surviving sibling. The centenarian met her future husband James Hairston while they were in grade school.
After graduating from Henry County High School, Hairston worked as a seamstress, making uniforms for military service men. She married James in 1945 and they remained married for 61 years until her husband died in 2006 at age 78. They had one child, Edmund Hairston, who is also a veteran of the U.S.
Navy. He currently lives in New Mexico with his wife. Mary Hairston has resided in Yeadon for 40 years. She has two grandchildren, Magwa Hairston, 24, and Nina Hairston, 26, who currently lives with the birthday honoree.
Her husband James was a U.S. Navy career serviceman who was once stationed on the Aircraft Carrier, Hornet, when Pearl Harbor was attacked. Together, the couple traveled all over the world. James himself visited every country in the world, except India, and traveled to the South Pole six times.
Hairston had multiple careers.
Hairston made airplane parts for the Navy in San Diego, Calif. She also worked in retail for Gimbel Brothers Department Store in Portsmouth Va.,
Providence, R.I., Boston, Mass., and Philadelphia, where she also took a job at John Wanamakers Department Store. She also made drapes for the Vultee Aircraft Corp. in Sharon Hill and made shirts for the U.S. Marines in Philadelphia.
After graduating from the Philadelphia School of Nursing, with a Licensed Practical Nursing degree in 1960, she worked in private duty, as well as at Manor Care in Yeadon and for the Military Auxiliary at Pearl Harbor.
However, Hairston makes it clear, that she doesn’t want to be defined by the jobs that she has had throughout her lifetime.
“We make a living by what we do,” the centenarian explained, “But we make a life by what we give.”
In addition to her many careers, Hairston was an active member of Jerusalem Christian Church. First African Baptist Church of Darby Township and Sharon Hill and the First African Baptist Church Flora Union.
She was also active in the community as a member of the Ladies Auxiliary Fleet Reserve Association, the American Legion, the American Legion Auxiliary, the Hairston Clan Chapter of Camden and Philadelphia, and the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association
“I love life and I especially love people,” Hairston remarked. “I always enjoyed helping people.”
In 1962, Hairston became a charter member of the Nurses of First African Baptist Church. The mission is to promote spiritual, mental, and physical health awareness for the members of the church and community. In 2009, the name was changed to the Health Care Ministry and she continued to serve her church for many more years.
“You’re supposed to love others and not hate,” Hairston said. “I always got along well with people and tried to love others. As the years go on, you learn to live and let live.”
According to her Goddaughter Margaret Renwick, after retiring, Hairston helped to raise quite a few children in her home, some of whom showed up at the birthday celebration.
“Her door was always open to the community where she was known to have a loving heart,” Renwick stated. “Many in the community called her ‘mom,’ because of her warm, nurturing spirit.”
Renwick said that Hairston is also known for her culinary skills, especially baking and making the best seafood salads.
When asked for the secret to her longevity, and the wisdom she gained from living such a long and fruitful life, Hairston referred to a favorite quote, “Life is a mystery to be lived not a problem to be solved.” She said she lived by a favorite hymn, “What a friend we have in Jesus.”