Page 3 - Florida Sentinel 12-22-17

Feature
Senior Roommates Plan Quiet Holiday With Family
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
For many years, two ladies shared many things in common, but their paths never crossed. How- ever, as fate would have it, today, the senior citizens are roommates.
Mrs. Gladys Blount, 95, was born in Newark, New Jersey on June 6, 1922. Her roommate, Mrs. Thelma Davis, 96, was born in Dunellen, Florida, on August 16, 1921.
Both ladies grew up in their respective home- towns and began life as young adults. Mrs. Blount joined the military as a WAC during World War II, and served her country. The youngest of four chil- dren, she married and became the mother of a son, Kwame (Anthony Blount) Agomou, and daughter, Eva Blount. She is a widow today.
Mrs. Thelma Davis began life as the youngest of nine children. She married a man in the military and became the mother of one son, Willie Davis. She is the widow of a World War II veteran.
They both survived the Roaring Twenties, Seg- regation, the Great Depression, World War II, and Prohibition. They have also lived through reces- sions and the steady rise of the cost of living.
Mrs. Eva Blount Davis, Mrs. Blount’s
daughter said, “They have a lot to reminisce about, like when a loaf of bread was .11¢, a pound of butter or five pounds of sugar was .25¢. They also remem-
ber earning $5 a week for cleaning and cooking.” The two ladies were drawn together more than 40 years ago when their children met while living in New Jersey. Today, their children, Willie and
Eva have been married for 42 years.
They also share four grandsons and eight great
grandchildren.
Mrs. Blount Davis said, “We are their care-
takers. My husband was born in Tampa, but I al- ways wanted to live in Florida. So, when we retired, we decided to make the Tampa Bay Area (Ruskin) our home. The four of us moved here 5 years ago.”
Both ladies have traveled extensively throughout the United States. They have also visited London, England, Paris, France, Belgium, and Canada.
Each lady has also maintained her individuality. Mrs. Blount is an avid reader. She loves biogra- phies and reads constantly.
Mrs. Davis became hooked on politics after former President Barack Obama declared his intentions to seek the presidency. She enjoys keep- ing up with what’s going on in the political arena.
But above all, they give thanks to God and live their lives with faith and dependency on God. On occasion, the family may visit a church. But for the most part the two ladies, who are both of Baptist faith, enjoy services on television.
They are grateful for the expectation that God will allow them to enjoy their 95th and 96th Christ- mases, respectively, with family and friends.
Mrs. Gladys Blount, left, and her roommate, Mrs. Thelma Davis, plan to spend the holidays quietly at home with family and friends.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2017 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 3-A