ASHLAND — Sara Stewart drives herself to the grocery store every week, serves as the president of the King Ridge Condominium Association, has a standing hair appointment and still attends First Christian Church.
Even as she’s grown up and gotten older — Stewart became Ashland’s latest resident to turn 100 years old on Oct. 23 — those routines have stuck.
For Stewart, finding the joy in her activities and in the world has been a defining part of her life.
“I enjoy the world and I believe in Christ,” Stewart said. “I’m surprised I got to this age.”
Living through history
Stewart was born and raised in Ashland. She remembers moments from her childhood, like when she had polio at age 7. Poliomyelitis, a virus, can cause paralysis and several other symptoms.
The disease grew to epidemic levels in the U.S. and United Kingdom throughout the 1900s, before the World Health Organization adopted a resolution for the worldwide eradication of polio in 1988.
Stewart said she found out after the fact the disease had paralyzed her — but, she made a full recovery.
She remembered growing up during the Great Depression, too. It was “a bad time, but a good time,” Stewart said.
What remains most prominent in her memory was her family’s garden and chickens, which helped provide them with food throughout the difficult times.
Stewart went on to graduate from Ashland High School, where she sang in the school’s a cappella choir. She said she really liked school, but couldn’t afford to attend college.
She began working before her high school graduation, and held a job at Mansfield Tire for 26 years.
Then, Stewart put her skills to work as a legal secretary for James Preston.
“I enjoyed being able to do it all,” Stewart said.
Outside of work, Stewart sang in the choir at First Christian Church and was president of the Ashland Business Professional Women’s Club.
A century’s worth of experiences
Stewart celebrated her 100th birthday last Saturday with family — nieces, nephews, her stepson and daughter-in-law and grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Making it to that milestone isn’t something Stewart expected or aimed for. She said her brother always talked about wanting to live to 100. He lived to the age of 98.
But for Stewart, it’s still those day-to-day activities, like driving to the grocery store and getting her hair done, that bring her joy.
“I really enjoy doing those things,” Stewart said. “It’s a sad time if you can’t do things on your own, and I’m glad I can still do it all.”
