Great-great-great-grandmother celebrates birthday
Frances' resilience and positive outlook was what kept her going and she smiled in the face of adversity
It was the year 1920 on April 10, when Frances Dorothy Smith was born.
Little did she know that 99 years later, she would be sharing her life story and revealing her secret to her longevity.
When you first meet Frances, her wrinkled hands and tender and shy smile tell a thousand words.
She was born in Zululand on a farm owned by her father. Being the eldest of nine siblings she helped her parents with the daily farm chores.
Frances attended school in Durban, and married in 1938, at the age of 18, to her first husband, with whom she raised five children.
When her husband passed away, she was left to provide for their children as a single parent.
“It was a hard life then; raising five children wasn’t a walk in the park,” she says solemnly.
Frances worked in the catering industry for many years to earn a living, and acquired invaluable experience which she used to make ends meet for her family.
What broke her heart was having to surrender her children to a foster home when she could no longer cope.
“Something died inside me the day when I had to let go of my children,” she said tearfully.
Life went on for Frances and she married for a second time, bore three more children and was ultimately reunited with her first five children.
“I wasn’t going to let grass grow under my feet. Life goes on,” joked Frances.
After her second husband passed away unexpectedly from a heart attack, Frances was once again left to pick up the pieces and move on.
Her resilience and positive outlook was what kept her going and she smiled in the face of adversity.
“Whatever life threw at me, I was determined to stay strong for my children,” Frances says.
Frances believes the third time’s the charm, and she decided to marry again. He was to be her partner for the next 36 years, until his death.
“When I look back on some of the things I’ve experienced, I am astonished. It was only by the grace of God that I made it through,” she attests.
Frances can proudly say she’s lived through the ages, from ox wagons to jet planes and telephones to cellphones.
At 99 years of age, she can still read without reading glasses and has a memory like an elephant.
She recalls fond memories of days when she would milk cows on her father’s farm and riding in a Scotch cart.
Frances says she never thought she would live to see 99 years of life.
“Despite all of the hardships I had to endure, it is rewarding to see my children grow up to be responsible men and women, and also to see their children and children’s children grow up in front of me.”
Frances has 20 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren and three great-great-great-grandchildren.
She looks forward to celebrating her 99th birthday and turning 100 next year!
The Newcastle Advertiser, wishes Frances a happy birthday and good health for the years ahead.
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