Eleven residents of Clarewood House, a senior community in southwest Houston, will turn 100 or older this year including:
Margaret Kilty, 100, Born Sept. 28, 1917 Helen Brown, 100, Born Sept. 30, 1917 Byrom Wehner, 100, Born March 21, 1918 Charles Omar Logan, 99, Born April 10, 1918 Lena Brenner, 99, Oct. 29, 1918 These are the edited responses of some of Clarewood House’s centenarians.
George McMahan, 102
Born: Oct. 21, 1915 Birthplace: Houston Fun facts: He served in the U.S. Army during World War II in the Pacific Theater. He is a Mason. In 2017, the Bellaire Lodge honored him for 70 years of service and as the last-surviving founding member. How did you become a Houstonian? He was born in the Bayou City and grew up in the Heights. Why have you lived so long? “I got my mother’s genes. She lived to 101.” What’s the secret to longevity? “I didn’t expect to get past 90 and I was surprised when I got to the 100th birthday.”
Margaret Shearer, 101
Born: June 6, 1916 Birthplace: South Bend, Ind. Fun fact: She has twin daughters, June and Joan, who turn 80 in May. How did you become a Houstonian? “My daughter moved here after she got married. My husband died. My family was getting smaller.” Why have you lived so long? “I just try to do the right thing for my health. I try to keep busy and I am busy.” What’s the secret to longevity? “One day at a time.”
Inez Heggie, 100
Born: Sept. 1, 1917 Birthplace: Graham, Texas Fun fact: She worked at a dime store during the Depression for $1 a day. How did you become a Houstonian? After her husband died in a car accident, she moved to Houston in 1973 with her two sons to be closer to her husband’s sisters. She retired from teaching in the Spring Branch Independent School District. Why have you lived so long? “Because I wanted to. I felt good. I like people. I enjoy seeing and enjoying and finding and looking. I had to work. I was not sick.” What’s the secret to longevity? “They need to be able to walk and walk and walk and walk.”
Laura “Wini” Robertson, 100
Born: Dec. 20, 1917 Birthplace: Tolbert, Texas Fun fact: She taught for 20 years at Poe Elementary in the Houston Independent School District. How did you become a Houstonian? “My husband worked with an oil company, and we were transferred here in 1960.” Her longtime home in the Meyerland area was flooded by Hurricane Harvey. Why have you lived so long? “Eating from the soil. We ate from gardens. I think that probably had something to do with it. I think that there may be some genes. I’ve had a few things wrong but very little sickness. We weren’t always talking about being happy, but there was always hard work.” What’s the secret to longevity? “You need to have a job that you really like and have people that you really care for around you. Have lots of friends. I don’t think you have to be happy every single minute. Do the best you can. Having children in your life or being around children makes for a happier life.”
Bettye Drisdale, 100
Born: March 16, 1918 Birthplace: Fort Worth, Texas Fun fact: She worked on the repair bench at her husband’s business on Westheimer, which started in “radios and phonographs,” evolved to black-andwhite televisions and, finally, to color TVs. How did you become a Houstonian? An only child, her father moved the family here during her childhood. Why have you lived so long? “I never expected that I’d live to be 100.” What’s the secret to longevity? “Enjoy life.”
Virginia Harrell, 100
Born: March 28, 1918 Birthplace: Yazoo City, Miss. Fun facts: She was once a “house mother” for the Delta Delta Delta sorority at Ole Miss, the University of Mississippi. Her maiden name is Swayze and the late actor and Houston native Patrick Swayze was a distant cousin. How did you become a Houstonian? She moved to Houston seven years ago to be closer to relatives. Why have you lived so long? She had aunts to live to 101, 103 and 104. “I think the good Lord is trying to make me a better person.” What’s the secret to longevity? “I tell you, the secret is walking. I walk a lot. Walk and be happy.” Read a 2010 article about a group of Houston centenarians who also offered advice on longevity.