John Brock: 100th year birthday celebration
Last Updated on 2/9/2010
Published on 6/21/2009
I have always wanted to attend a 100th year birthday celebration.
I had hoped it would be my own, but my aunt beat me to it! A couple of weekends ago, I had the pleasure of attending a birthday party like no other I have ever been invited to.
My aunt, Eva Brock Maloney, who lives in the upstate, celebrated her 100th birthday on May 26. Eva is my Dad's sister and the only surviving sibling of this sturdy Abbeville County S.C. stock. I have written about her in the past because she is my hope for an active longevity.
Whenever I get to feeling old, decrepit and slowed-down, my thoughts often turn to my diminutive, vivacious and energetic Aunt Eva.
Eva and my Dad were the youngest surviving children in their family and she reminds me so much of him that whenever I visit with Eva, I have an eerie feeling that I am talking with my Dad, who died at 86. Their personalities, mannerisms and appearances are most similar -- even the natural red hair my aunt still retains!
My aunt and my father were blessed with peaceful, contented, gentle souls. Whatever life handed them, they could always adapt with a deep Christian resolve.
Eva married Roy Maloney, a young ARP (Associate Reformed Presbyterian) preacher, who often served two churches at a time and like the Apostle Paul, he not only preached but toiled in other tasks among the Christian community as well.
During the summer for many years, he was the director of Bonclarken, which is the ARP assembly grounds and conference center at Flat Rock in the N.C. mountains. Aunt Eva served as dietician. This was in addition to their pastoral duties in the South Carolina midlands, where they moved after marriage. Uncle Roy would take his family to the mountains in the summer and return to his churches in the fall. Both Roy and Aunt Eva were products of Erskine College and Seminary in Due West, S.C. They retained a life-long love for the college and a scholarship bears Roy's name today. He died more than 30 years ago. The library at Bonclarken, where her birthday party took place, is dedicated in his honor. My aunt Eva recently attended her Erskine class of 1933 reunion. She was the only surviving member.
My aunt goes about her daily activities with a zest indicative of someone half her age. She doesn't meander around life -- she takes off in a determined half-run. She often drives her car and cuts her own grass as well as attending to the other functions of life and community. Until recently, she was playing the piano every Sunday at her church.
Today, Eva doesn't drive her car very much but she confided to me that she takes off on short jaunts whenever no one was looking.
Aunt Eva and her husband's family bought a house many years ago at Bonclarken where she still spends her summers. A daughter is with her most of the summer but, otherwise, Aunt Eva lives sometimes alone at both houses. However, another daughter lives nearby the S.C. home and a grandson stays with her some of the time.
A few years ago, I was speaking with her and asked about her car because it was already growing elderly. She said that it was doing pretty good but she was a little out of sorts because as she put it, "I think I am going to outlive my car. When I bought it, I figured it would outlast me." Both are still going strong!
I asked her what she did when her car broke down and she said, "I just sit there and say, 'Lord here I am,' and He always sends someone along to help me out." Whenever a breakdown occurs near home, it is usually no problem because everyone in that end of the county knows "Miss Eva" and her automobile. They stop and help.
I am often reprimanded by the phrase, "Oh, ye of little faith," whenever I compare her faith to mine.
There's nothing wrong with her faith though. Like my father, they both always possessed a strong, enduring faith that, "The Lord will provide." During both their lifetimes, even though there have been occasions of sadness, nothing has come along to thwart that faith.
She and her preacher husband had a full life together working in the vineyards of their Lord. They have been an inspiration to everyone with whom they came into contact.
Whenever, I get a little discouraged about the aches and pains of aging and living, I always think about Aunt Eva and her inspiring example. I just sit there and lament, "Lord, here I am." And sure enough He sends somebody along to ease my burdens and soon -- I am up and running again.
Happy 100th Aunt Eva!
John Brock, the author of the book "Southern Breezes Whistle Dixie" lives in Georgetown County and can be reached by mail at this newspaper or at brock@johnbrock.com
