‘I’m here in Jesus’ name’: 100-year-old grateful for life, large family

Gilmore, a resident of The Oaks in Orangeburg, was born Jan. 12, 1924, in Orangeburg County to the late Frank and Ezella Shuler Shingler.

She is grateful that God has given her a long life, even if she is not as mobile as she used to be.

“I don’t have no pain, but I just don’t have the energy. I just don’t have the energy to do like I used to do, that’s all it is. Old age has taken over. I understand that, but I’m here in Jesus’ name,” Gilmore said.

She and her late husband, Harvey Gilmore Sr., a U.S. Navy and World War II veteran, were the loving parents of 12, including 11 biological children and one adopted son, Mervin D. Prezzy Gilmore.

Their living children include Roosevelt, Bernie Lee, Wallace, Cleven, Joe Ann, D.L. and John. George, Harvey Jr., Willie and Susan are deceased.

Gilmore’s daughter, Joe Ann Gilmore-Goodwin, said she and her siblings are thankful that their mother is still around to be an example of strength and resilience for the family.

“It’s a blessing. At 99, she was still going to the bathroom by herself. She could put her gown on and still go to bed at night. After she had surgery and laid up for so long, she kind of like don’t use those legs as much as she used to. But it is a blessing to have her here because she was always an independent woman,” Gilmore-Goodwin said.

Cleven Gilmore Sr. said, “It’s a blessing that we’ve still got her here. We’re blessed because she took care of us, kept us and taught us the way of the Lord and how to be responsible for your own actions. She (taught) us to be good men.”

Gilmore-Goodwin said her mother’s first visit to the hospital was at age 75, while her brother added that, “all her kids were born at home.”

“When they made her, as people say, they threw away the mold because she was never a person in the doctor’s office. I wish I had all those genes. I’ve got some of them, but I don’t have all of them,” Gilmore-Goodwin said.

The centenarian was educated at Oak Grove School in Santee and for many years attended Oak Grove Baptist Church and Friendship AME Church in Santee. She is now a member of Mt. Hebron Baptist Church in Santee, where she is the mother of the church and counts singing on the senior choir among her church activities.

“I used to sing in church ever since I was 10 or 12 years old,” said Gilmore, who sang a couple of songs she remembered singing from her days in the church.

She’s not sure why God let her live so long, but she has an idea.

“Because I pray to him. I talk to my master because I thank him for every hour and every day,” Gilmore said, noting that she eats a little bit of everything, especially stewed beef.

“I ain’t picky and choosey about eating. I eat a little bit of everything as far as I understand,” she said.

“I thank God I’m here in Jesus’ name. I don’t have no pain. I just don’t have the energy to do like I used to,” said Gilmore, who recalled picking cotton and beans as a child growing up.

As an adult, she worked as a homemaker and babysitter, “for the richest people in Santee,” but also cared for a lot of people in the neighborhood.

“She has helped raise a lot of children. One guy in Louisiana, he was in the military and was friends with one of my nephews. They used to come down and stay. When he comes to South Carolina, he knows where ‘grandma’s’ house is. That’s what he calls her,” Gilmore-Goodwin said.

Gilmore said, “They used to come to my house because they used to love my biscuits. … I used to cook cornbread and biscuits. Boy, when the crowd of children would taste it, they’d come back again.”

Gilmore-Goodwin said her mother was also known for her delicious coconut and potato pies.

Gilmore is the grandmother of 106 grandchildren, more than 120 great-grands and more than 20 great-great-grandchildren.

“She’s got a lot of great celebrities in her family,” Cleven said, including his son, who is widely known as DJ Cleve, and her great-grandson, NFL player Mike Williams of the Los Angeles Chargers. Actress Pernell Walker is also Gilmore’s grandniece.

Gilmore-Goodwin said her mother’s resilience was really shown after she was widowed at age 41.

“She had six kids still in school,” Gilmore-Goodwin said, but kept her focus.

The family held a birthday celebration for Gilmore at The Oaks on Jan. 12.

She received special recognitions from many, including, but not limited to, Orangeburg County Sheriff Leroy Ravenell and a representative from 6th District Congressman Jim Clyburn’s office. State Sen. Vernon Stephens, D-Bowman, presented Gilmore with a House resolution which was adopted on Jan. 10 in honor of Gilmore’s milestone birthday.

“We are so proud that she’s still here with us. We just ask God to give her as many good years as he possibly can,” Gilmore-Goodwin said.