Oniezima Ponder, right, 109 years old, wishes "Happy Birthday" to Edna McFadgen, left, on her 102nd birthday. George Horsford / Daily Sun THE VILLAGES, Florida (Daily Sun), November 18, 2007:
Villager Edna McFadgen turned 102 Friday, and all she wanted for her birthday was to meet another centenarian — 109-year-old Onie Ponder of Ocala. Hospice of Lake & Sumter made it happen. They arranged for a limousine to bring Onie to Edna’s Village of Rio Ranchero home.
Once the centenarians met, they greeted each other with kisses. They held hands as they spoke, and quickly became friends.
“I’m just so glad to see you,” Edna exclaimed. Onie felt the same way. She was glad to finally meet Miss Edna, the woman she had heard wanted to meet her.
The Villager also was eager to learn more about Onie, the Ocala native who was born at her parents’ home on Sept. 3, 1898, has lived in parts or all of three centuries and holds the distinction of being the oldest Daughters of American Revolution member in the United States. Edna also wanted to know Onie’s secrets for longevity.
“You’re 109? That’s a long time,” the 102-year-old said to her new friend, who is seven years older. “How do you get to be 109?”
“You’ve got to have determination,” Onie replied. “Live one day at a time; that’s the best way.”
Onie noted that the Ocala assisted-living facility where she lives is already planning her 110th birthday party for the fall of 2008.
“110? Oh, I’ll never make it that long,” Edna said. “Oh, yes you will,” Onie said.
“You have to be determined.”
Onie credits her longevity to her optimism, and being born to parents with good genes. “I had to walk until I was 18 because we didn’t have a horse and buggy,” Onie said. “So I had to walk everywhere and I strengthened my limbs, and they were the ones that took me around. … Some days now I feel pretty old,” she admitted, “but times when I’m enjoying myself, like I am now, I feel like I might still be in my 80s.”
Onie also had questions for her young friend. “How much do you weigh, Miss Edna?” “I weigh 108 pounds,” Edna replied. “108? Oh, boy,” Onie said with a slighchuckle. “I’m 173!”
“Do you have any children?” Edna asked her birthday guest.
Proud of their families
Onie proudly told Edna of her sons. “One will be 75 in April and the other one will be 72 in March,” Onie said, adding she also has seven grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
“Oh, I bought you a birthday gift,” Onie happily tells Edna. “It’s a CD of Christmas songs. Do you have something to play a CD on? The fellow singing on it is my son.”
“Are you a Florida girl?” Onie asked Edna, only to learn that Edna was born in Pittsburgh. “I’ve never been there, but I’ve been in Philadelphia before,” said Onie, who went on to tell how her grandfather was a doctor on South 16th Street and associated with a university hospital in Philadelphia.
“How do you remember everything so good?” Edna asked Onie. “Practice, I guess,” Onie said. “Do you talk a lot?” Edna asks. “A lot,” Onie replied.
“I don’t talk too much. My husband does it all,” Edna said, telling of her caregiver husband, Robert, 85. The two have been married 64 years.
“Are your eyes good?” Edna asked. “No, I’m legally blind, but it was not until I was after 100 years old,” Onie replied. Edna tells her friend her vision isn’t good either. She has macular degeneration, and began receiving hospice care at her Villages home three years ago when she was found to be suffering congestive heart disease. Yet Edna keeps active in her home, and continues to do household chores, like dusting, because she wants to.
The centenarians shared more girl talk before enjoying a carryout lunch provided by Bob Evans. Edna chose chicken potpie for her birthday dinner and her 109-year-old friend requested soup and salad. The women also were treated to birthday balloons and red, white and pink roses.
Pat Subers of the Village of Santiago loved seeing her 102-year-old mother interact with her newfound 109-year-old friend. “This is neat that my mom is the young one,” Subers said, grinning.
By Theresa Campbell
Copyright © 2007 The Villages Daily Sun
