Rutherford Weekly

OUR 25 th YEAR • ISSUE NO. 31 • AUGUST 3, 2017 RutherfordWeekly.com 828-248-1408 719 S. Broadway, Forest City Right off Exit 182 from US74 ©Community First Media Community First Media Made in America glass Local artwork, glass & more Vaping Supplies Vaping Supplies Skateboards Skateboards Mon-Tues 11am-6pm Extended Hours Wed-Sat 11am-7pm August 10-15 Veterans Field @ Keeter Stadium General Admission Tickets $35 ON SALE NOW! 2017 In Tribute to Team Brackeen & Ciko Complimentary Complimentary INFORMING RUTHERFORD COUNTY INFORMING RUTHERFORD COUNTY Article By: Cathy Alexander Article By: Cathy Alexander If you look up the word 'grace' in the dictionary, you'll If you look up the word 'grace' in the dictionary, you'll find a picture of Mary Gladys Sams. find a picture of Mary Gladys Sams. At 104 years young, Ms. Gladys Sams is the At 104 years young, Ms. Gladys Sams is the embodiment of grace. This is evident in the way she embodiment of grace. This is evident in the way she lives her life. Still capable of living alone, Gladys lives her life. Still capable of living alone, Gladys currently resides in a senior retirement community currently resides in a senior retirement community in Forest City and is staying busy doing God's work. in Forest City and is staying busy doing God's work. Children she will never meet; disadvantaged children Children she will never meet; disadvantaged children from all across our planet, are on her mind and in from all across our planet, are on her mind and in her heart as she sews. She has mastered the art of her heart as she sews. She has mastered the art of turning ordinary pillow cases into beautiful dresses that turning ordinary pillow cases into beautiful dresses that are sent to young girls in Africa and South America. are sent to young girls in Africa and South America. Hundreds of dresses, maybe even a thousand Hundreds of dresses, maybe even a thousand altogether, have been lovingly crafted for children she altogether, have been lovingly crafted for children she will never have the pleasure to know. "For the small, will never have the pleasure to know. "For the small, and for the tall" replied Ms. Sams when asked who she and for the tall" replied Ms. Sams when asked who she makes the dresses for. She hasn't forgotten the little makes the dresses for. She hasn't forgotten the little boys either. She has made hundreds of small stuffed boys either. She has made hundreds of small stuffed puppies that are ideal for them as well. puppies that are ideal for them as well. Her 'labor of love' hasn't gone unnoticed. She won't Her 'labor of love' hasn't gone unnoticed. She won't tell how many times she has been honored for her tell how many times she has been honored for her work. She is humble, but, there are plaques inscribed work. She is humble, but, there are plaques inscribed with her name adorning the walls of her lovely home paying tribute to the hours upon hours of time she has devoted to enriching the lives of children world wide. Born in Dewey Rose, Georgia, in 1913, Ms. Sams has lived in seven southern states during her lifetime. Before moving to Forest City from Greenwood, SC, Gladys was an active member of Piedmont Agency on Aging where she also served on the Board of Directors. Participating in "Senior Olympics" has added another sixteen plaques to her vast collection. Frisbee Golf and Fly Rod Casting are apparently natural talents Gladys possesses are apparently natural talents Gladys possesses along with her sewing, tatting, knitting, and crocheting. along with her sewing, tatting, knitting, and crocheting. Seemingly unlimited in her creative abilities, Gladys Seemingly unlimited in her creative abilities, Gladys also makes amazing necklaces out of church bulletins. also makes amazing necklaces out of church bulletins. You read that right, You read that right, church bulletins. church bulletins. "You cut them into "You cut them into small triangles," says small triangles," says Gladys, "and then Gladys, "and then roll them around a roll them around a tooth pick, adding tooth pick, adding glue as you go. Once glue as you go. Once it is dry, remove the it is dry, remove the toothpick, and you toothpick, and you have space for the have space for the cord." Having taught cord." Having taught crafting classes for crafting classes for other seniors, Gladys other seniors, Gladys is always willing to is always willing to help. help. When Gladys isn't When Gladys isn't crafting, she enjoys crafting, she enjoys spending time with spending time with her neighbors. Her her neighbors. Her grandson, Bobby grandson, Bobby Conner, and his Conner, and his wife, Sharon, tell wife, Sharon, tell us, "They are like a us, "They are like a small village there in the cul-de-sac... Each of them small village there in the cul-de-sac... Each of them doing little special things for one another. Stan, across doing little special things for one another. Stan, across the street, really looks after all the widows. The group the street, really looks after all the widows. The group of them, and others in the villas there, go out to eat of them, and others in the villas there, go out to eat together every couple of weeks.... Mamaw" as Bobby together every couple of weeks.... Mamaw" as Bobby calls her, "really enjoys sitting on the porch with her calls her, "really enjoys sitting on the porch with her neighbors Judy, Jean, and Geraldine." neighbors Judy, Jean, and Geraldine." Occasionally, Gladys attends church with Bobby Occasionally, Gladys attends church with Bobby and Sharon at Concord Baptist Church in Bostic. and Sharon at Concord Baptist Church in Bostic. There, in conjunction with their WMU, Gladys is There, in conjunction with their WMU, Gladys is continuously contributing to their missions program by continuously contributing to their missions program by donating the dresses, dolls and puppies, all uniquely donating the dresses, dolls and puppies, all uniquely crafted one-of-a-kind treasures that will make their crafted one-of-a-kind treasures that will make their way around the globe in shoe boxes filled with love. way around the globe in shoe boxes filled with love. There's no telling how many lives she has touched. There's no telling how many lives she has touched. While visiting with Gladys, one might be so lucky to While visiting with Gladys, one might be so lucky to hear her charming laughter as she recalls the time she hear her charming laughter as she recalls the time she worked with her husband at a meat processing facility. worked with her husband at a meat processing facility. Brought in temporarily to help out, Gladys found Brought in temporarily to help out, Gladys found herself perched up high on a platform inspecting and herself perched up high on a platform inspecting and grading the meats as they were transported through grading the meats as they were transported through the process. She tells of the time when a large hog the process. She tells of the time when a large hog escaped his enclosure to run chaotically through the escaped his enclosure to run chaotically through the building causing all the employees to flee in different building causing all the employees to flee in different directions, all while she was able to enjoy the 'show' directions, all while she was able to enjoy the 'show' up there in her safe space. And, if that doesn't get you up there in her safe space. And, if that doesn't get you chuckling along with her, she'll tell you about the time chuckling along with her, she'll tell you about the time the bull made his escape as well. the bull made his escape as well. What an amazing life Mary Gladys Sams has lived, What an amazing life Mary Gladys Sams has lived, so far! In all of these years, one thing is sure, she has so far! In all of these years, one thing is sure, she has lived it full of love and grace. Her sense of humor, lived it full of love and grace. Her sense of humor, creativity, generosity and talent have been enjoyed by creativity, generosity and talent have been enjoyed by many and she continues, to this day, to get up each many and she continues, to this day, to get up each morning to do something for someone else. She is morning to do something for someone else. She is beautiful, inside and out, and the trophy and crown beautiful, inside and out, and the trophy and crown she received when named "Miss Greenwood Senior" she received when named "Miss Greenwood Senior" proves it. proves it. When asked what her secret to such a long life is, When asked what her secret to such a long life is, without hesitation, she responds, "Ask Jesus!" One without hesitation, she responds, "Ask Jesus!" One might conclude might conclude that 'grace' is the that 'grace' is the key. key. 104 Years Young, Mary Gladys Sams is 104 Years Young, Mary Gladys Sams is Sharon Conner, Gladys Sams and Bobby Conner Bobby Conner A Picture of Grace and Beauty Close up of elongated Close up of elongated necklace beads made out necklace beads made out of church bulletins of church bulletins Bobby invites you to take a look at a short Bobby invites you to take a look at a short video of Gladys as she talks about the 'joy' video of Gladys as she talks about the 'joy' she received from making dresses and she received from making dresses and dolls last year. Go to YouTube, search for dolls last year. Go to YouTube, search for "103 year old makes pillowcase dresses" "103 year old makes pillowcase dresses" Surrounded by Surrounded by photographs photographs of her family of her family is a trophy is a trophy awarded to awarded to Gladys when Gladys when she was she was crowned "Miss crowned "Miss Greenwood Greenwood Senior" Senior"

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