Two Wesley House residents turn 102 this month

By Randy Grider
randy@casscountynow.com

Wesley House residents Raby Little and Louise McGee are celebrating their respective 102nd birthdays this month. Little was born on Jan. 21, 1915 and McGee on Jan. 29, 1915.
To put their long lives into perspective: Woodrow Wilson, the 28th president, was in office when they were born. The United States was still two years away from entering World War I. Woman had not been given the right to vote.
Little grew in Liberty Eylau in what is known as  the Possum Trot community.  Her father was a farmer, who helped build Wright Patman Lake
Little later moved to the Smyrna area where she met her husband, the late Tommy Little. She has two children, nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. She is a member of the Atlanta Church of Christ.
Little, who was primarily a homemaker, where she loved cooking, canning and gardening, though she worked for a time at Paul’s Cleaners and Price Hardware. 
Little lived on her own until six months ago -- still mowing her yard and putting up Christmas decorations.
“I was never afraid to live by myself.
As for hobbies now, “I like to fish,” Little said. “I go fishing when someone takes me. I like to catch white perch, but they are pretty hard to catch.”
McGee was born in the Union Chapel Community. She attended first through the 10th-grade  at the Union Chapel Community School, completing her final year at Atlanta High School. 
After graduation, she attended McMurray College in Abilene, where she achieved a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. Later, she attended East Texas State University to earn a master’s degree.
She  met Tillman McGee in 1936, and after a two-year courtship, they were married in 1938. They were married for 47 years until his death in 1986.
However, her greatest achievement was as an educator. McGee  taught elementary school for 45 years, mostly in Atlanta, retiring in 1981.
“A lot of the kids I taught come by to see me every day,” McGee said. “Also my nephew and his wife, Bill and Opal Teague come by to see me every day. I keep a guest book by my door and everyone who comes to see me signs it.”
Bill Teague said his aunt is an amazing woman. 
“She has had bladder cancer and beat it,” he said. “She had a stroke and beat it -- all in the last six or seven years. She was 97 years old when she had a stroke. She had the clot-busting procedure and after only 21 days in rehab, she was back living here.”
McGee said the secret to a long life is having caring people around her.
“I’ve always had someone to take good care of me,” McGee said. 
“Now I get good care [at Wesley House.] I’m very blessed.”