Williams credits faith for longevity

Estellar Mae Williams of Poplar Bluff celebrated her 100 birthday Sunday, Jan. 9, but she said she doesn’t feel any different than before.

She credits her longevity to her faith in God.

“I thank God for having a long life,” Williams said. “I’d say I’ve lived a long life by the grace of God, serving the Lord, living right, doing what I knew was right and loving people. I love everyone, read my Bible and I’ve treated everybody like the Bible says.”

Williams’ niece, Rose Hall, calls Williams “a true woman of God.”

Hall recalls her mother Rosie Lee Harris and Williams always sang African-American gospel music on Federation Sunday, which was the third Sunday of the month.

Hall said Williams is the oldest of eight sibling who survived, but there had been 14 born to the family.

Talking about her life, Williams said, “I was born in Memphis, Tennessee, and mostly raised in the country. I was raised on different farms, and I was working in fields until I moved to Chicago.”

Once in Chicago, Williams worked in factories and joined a church. No matter where she lived, God and church were important parts of her life.

“I always was brought up in church. I enjoyed it,” she said.

Williams admitted, gospel music played a role in her life.

“I’ve been training myself ever since I’ve been big enough to remember, and I do love gospel music,” she said. “When I left Chicago, I moved here and organized a youth choir. They lasted for a few years. Young people grew up and they were separated. Loving Jesus Ministry, that’s my church.”

After arriving in Poplar Bluff, Williams worked at nursing homes and for the Butler County Health Center.

“I worked there until I retired,” she said. “I was in my 70s.”

Williams recalls she was still working when the “Social Security office called me and told me I didn’t have to turn in my Social Security money. I could make as much as I wanted to, no limit. I had a sick brother, Robert Lee Harris, here with me. I had to take care of him, so I just retired.”

Williams and her son, Stanley Stubbs, who is in his 80s, live together.

COVID has changed her life. Before COVID, “I went to see the sick and visited the nursing homes. Now I go to church and the doctor’s office. My son canceled my birthday party, but I enjoyed being here,” she said.

Her 100th birthday celebration “was very nice. I went to Sunday school and came back home. My grandchildren and great-grandchildren wanted to see me, but they couldn’t come, so we Zoomed.”

They live in Kentucky, Chicago and Texas.

“When that was over, my nieces who live here, they all came over taking pictures,” she said.