One of the beloved residents of the Extended Care Unit at Person Memorial Hospital, Mary Ella Morris Blanks, recently celebrated an extraordinary milestone as she turned 100 years old.
The Extended Care Unit was filled with birthday decorations, joyful singing, laughter, and love as staff, family, friends, and community leaders gathered Wednesday, May 13, to honor a century of life, memories, and wisdom.
Blanks was joined in celebration by family members, Roxboro Mayor Cynthia Petty, MADD Director Ollie Jeffers, PMH Chief Operating Officer Eric Kaplan, Vicky Oakley, ECU Director Tanya McPhaul, and ECU Activities Director Jana Harston.
Born and raised in Roxboro, Blanks has witnessed tremendous change throughout her lifetime while remaining deeply rooted in the community she has always called home.
“I have lived in Roxboro since I started first grade,” Blanks shared. “It was a two-room school where first and second grade sat in one room and third and fourth grade sat in the other room.”
After fourth grade, she attended Central School in uptown Roxboro before later graduating from Roxboro High School, once located off Morgan Street. Reflecting on her school years, Blanks fondly remembered her classmate Dr. Thomas Long, calling him “the smartest guy that I have ever met.”
Following high school graduation, Blanks began working at Walker Insurance Company, earning 25 cents an hour before joining her parents at the Roxboro Cotton Mill, where she earned 30 cents an hour. Her career in the mills spanned decades as the company evolved from Longhurst to Roxboro Manufacturer and eventually Collins & Aikman.
“My entire career was spent in the cotton mill,” she said.
At age 79, Blanks retired to care for her husband, Garland Blanks, who had worked for the Roxboro Telephone Company for 35 years before his passing in 2005.
Family has always been central to Blanks’ life. She is the proud mother of two children, grandmother of three grandchildren, and great-grandmother of four great-grandchildren, most of whom still live between South Boston and Roxboro.
Outside of work and family, Blanks was known for her beautiful flower gardens. Her yard along U.S. Highway 501 North became well known throughout the community for its colorful blooms.
“People wanted their prom and wedding pictures in front of them and would stop by to stare at them,” she recalled.
When asked about her favorite part of her birthday celebration at PMH, Blanks smiled and said, “Everybody coming by to see me and everybody so nice.”
As for the secret to reaching 100 years old, Blanks credits a simple lifestyle, hard work, and avoiding stress.
“I have always been real healthy and never took a single medication until I turned 99,” she said. “I lived a plain, simple, and clean life. I have never drank any alcohol or smoked any tobacco. I don’t really stress or let things worry me.”
She also shared advice passed down from her mother: “It’s not hard work that will kill you — it is worrying about life that will.”
Blanks added with a smile that another key to longevity is “hard work and staying busy.”
And when asked to name her favorite singer of all time, her answer came quickly and enthusiastically: “Oh, that is easy! Elvis Presley and his dancing.”
The staff and residents of Person Memorial Hospital are honored to celebrate this remarkable milestone with Ms. Blanks and grateful for the opportunity to recognize a life well lived.
By Donna Young