Sue Patton and Betty Patton visitwith their mother, Susie Elliott, at Tyler’s Retreat almost daily. Mrs. Elliott celebrated her 106th birthday last weekend, August 1.
She is the mother of nine children – three of her children have passed away. She is a grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great grandmother to many and loved by all.
Minnie Susie Elliott was born and raised in the Blue Ridge Mountains in an area called Meadows of Dan, Virginia. She was from a large family. All of her brothers and sisters have passed away.
She has a lot of “adopted family” as well as she had been very loving and kind to so many over the years. While she was still in her own home, she loved to cook for everyone she could and still will offer you her plate at the nursing home before she eats anything.
Mrs. Elliott has received the nickname of “Chicken” at the nursing home. She started calling people that a number of years ago because she could not remember their names. Most of the staff refer to her as “Chicken” which we all love. Even one of the staff members recently called her “Turkey” instead – teasing her. “She loved it,” said Sue Patton.
“She amazes us all at 106 years. She does get things confused from time to time but as a whole she does very well,” said Betty Patton. Sue Patton added, “She always knows her family. One of her favorite things she loves to do is to be taken outside at the nursing home weather permitting.”
Prior to coming to the nursing home Mrs. Elliott was very active in her church activities as well as several senior citizens groups and loved to take trips as often as possible. “We used to say she kept her “boots parked at the door” as she was always ready to go when she had an opportunity,” said Sue Patton.
Patton said even at 106-years-old, she still has a mother’s concern for her children. “With one of her daughters a widow, she consistently reminds her that she needs to find her someone,” she said. “We guess once a “mother always a mother” even at 106 years old.”
She made the statement recently “it is what it is” – so her longevity is a mystery to all of family but they do know (as she has stated in the past) “God is not through with me yet!”
