Local resident celebrates 100th birthday

By Susan Hardee Steger

November 25, 2018 1:00 a.m.

Bessie Mae Reeves celebrates her 100th birthday.

Family and friends of Bessie Mae Reeves, who was born on November 25, 1918, gathered together on Saturday at Bessie Mae’s Fernandina Beach home yesterday to celebrate her 100th birthday. Why on Saturday? “So that the family could go to church on Sunday,” according to Bessie Mae’s son , Willie Pollard.

Bessie Mae spent her growing up years on a farm in Opelika, Alabama where her family raised chickens hogs, cows and grew cotton, sweet potatoes, okra, tomatoes, and corn. She got to know her soon-to-be husband Warren, a World War II veteran, during her Alabama school days. It wasn’t until after the war that Warren and Bessie Mae were married. She became the mother of three children.

It was her husband’s job opportunity at Rayonier Advanced Materials, the same place Warren’s son Willie now works, that brought the Reeves to Fernandina. Bessie Mae spent her younger years as a member of First Missionary Baptist Church and as a loving mother and housekeeper for several area families.

Bessie Mae has noticed “a lot of building” since her arrival in 1966. She has seen Fernandina's population grow from between 6 or 7 thousand in the 1960's to 12 thousand today.

“I’ve tried to be the best I could,” said Bessie Mae as she reflected on her life.

Now at age 100, Bessie Mae spends most of her time in her South 9th Street home where she raised her children.  Her attentive son Willie has carefully positioned heaters to keep his mother warm and to help soothe her arthritis pain.

A beautiful person inside and out, Bessie Mae has lived a life  surrounded by love. Happy birthday to you, Bessie Mae!