©2009 NPT PHOTO BY DUAY O'NEIL

A beautifully decorated birthday cake featured Ella Mae Lane's picture on it. The cake
was served at Sunday's party in honor of Lane's 100th birthday.

BYBEE-Ella Mae Lane joined a very elite group of Cocke County residents on Friday, August 14, when she became a centenarian. She joined at least three other Cocke Countians-Sarah Brabson, Matilda Webb, and Janella Carpenter-who have reached this milestone this year.

All four ladies were born when William Howard Taft was United States President. Few automobiles were found in Cocke County, and most citizens had no electricity, running water, or telephone service.

Nearly 100 one- and two-room schools dotted the county's landscape. Among the citizens were several people born as slaves and numerous veterans of the Civil War.

Now these ladies have lived through two world wars and other conflicts, the arrival of the jet and space age, the world's adaptation to the computer age, and the pollution of and now the cleansing of the Pigeon River.

Born August 14, 1909, Ella Mae is the daughter of the late Darius and Lillie Mae "Dolly" (Sexton) Nolen, who lived in Bybee.

On Sunday, she was the star of the show at a grand celebration at Bybee United Methodist Church when family and friends gathered at a party in her honor.

Ella Mae is the oldest of the five Nolen children, the others being Illa (Nolen) Huff, Vena (Nolen) Worth, James "Jim" Nolen, and R. B. Nolen.

Among the guests at Sunday's to-do was Ella Mae's younger brother, Jim, a mere 96. Her other siblings are now deceased.

As a child, Ella Mae attended Bybee School, a short distance from her home. The family worshiped at Clay Creek Baptist Church.

It was at a party at Bob Dover's that Ella Mae met her future husband, Clarence Lane, a local boy.

"There were about 35 people there," recalls Ella Mae, "and we were pitching horseshoes. When the party was over, he came up to me and asked, "Aren't you afraid to walk home?'"

"I told him 'No,' but he walked me home anyway. We got married two weeks later."

The Lanes became the parents six children: Hunley, Charles, Bobbie Jean, J. C., and two little girls who died as babies. All are now deceased, except J. C.

She has three grandchildren: Tammy McGaha, Toni Caldwell, and Cindy Williams, plus four great-grandchildren.

Longevity seems to be "a given" in Ella Mae's family. In addition to the honoree and her brother, their sister Vena lived to be 90, their dad "Poppy" died at 92, and their Aunt Kate lived until 96.

It was a grand day Sunday when Ella Mae arrived at church to see a sign proclaiming her special day. Rev. Martin Riley and the congregation pulled out all the stops to make Ella Mae's party a gala occasion.

After special recognition and the traditional singing of "Happy Birthday" during the service, everyone adjourned next door to the fellowship hall for a traditional "Dinner on the Grounds" meal, complete with a beautifully decorated cake, bouquets of flowers, gifts, and another sing-along of "Happy Birthday."

And Ella Mae loved every minute of it!