Lucy Harbin is an active single woman. She holds Bible studies with friends, keeps up with the world around her and teaches Sunday School at Maytown Baptist Church, Maytown, in Bessemer Association. She also recently turned 100 years old.
“God calls you for something,” she explained simply. “There is too much to be done not to stay busy.”
The youngest of 11 children, Harbin was born near Jasper in 1900. “My mother and father were dedicated Christians,” she said. “There was no drinking or smoking or bad language in that house. My daddy saw to that. Of course,” she added, “my brothers probably did that outside of the house.”
Harbin’s earliest memories are of going to church with her family. “We walked most of the time. If it rained, we would take the horse and buggy, but you know how horses get when you tie them up for a long time.”
Lifetime commitment
At 17, Harbin married the man she would be with for 75 years, Walter. That family of two grew into 12 children (three have passed away), 27 grandchildren, 47 great-grandchildren and 17 great-great-grandchildren.
“With one on the way,” she added.
Harbin’s husband died in 1992.
“At our anniversary party, somebody asked me if I’d ever thought about divorce,” Harbin said. “I said, no, but I’ve thought about murder,” she continued jokingly.
Being a centenarian doesn’t keep her from keeping up with current events or forming strong opinions.
“When I was in school, my teacher led us in a prayer and the pledge of allegiance every morning,” she recalled.
“I think it’s awful that they’re taking prayer out of the schools. If we’re going to be free people, doesn’t that mean we should be able to do what we want?
“The Bible says to train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is a man, he will not depart from it. If we kept prayer in the schools, we wouldn’t have most of the problems we have now.”
Continued obedience
Bible study is a major part of Harbin’s life. Every Tuesday morning is devoted to a study held in her house, and she listens to her Sunday School lesson on tape before she teaches it to “her girls” (ages 58 to 68) on Sunday morning.
Harbin’s son collects Bibles for his mother so she can give them to whoever comes to her house, like visitors, grandchildren or newspaper reporters.
“If you know me, you don’t have an excuse not to have a Bible,” she said.
“Paul said to study the Bible. He didn’t say to just read it. Study your Bible and do what it says,” she said. “Denomination won’t save you. It doesn’t matter if you’re Baptist or Presbyterian or Methodist. Studying and preaching the Bible is what you’re here for if you’re a Christian.”
In addition to studying the Bible, Harbin has spent her 100 years gathering advice that she is always willing to share.
“You have to have three Gs to get by in this world: God’s grace, grit and greenback. Move yourself as long as you can. As long as you do your part, God will make a way for you,” she said.
Despite her insistence that her memory is not what it used to be, Harbin can recall many things that are now in the history books.
“Everybody was excited to see the automobile when it came out,” Harbin explained.
“And of course electricity was a big change once we finally got it. Before then I did all my studies by a kerosene lamp.”
But the invention of the automobile, widespread use of electricity and even man’s first steps on the moon pale in comparison to what Harbin believes is the biggest change she has seen in her century of life.
“The washing machine. It was amazing,” she said. “Have you ever had to use a rub board?”
Along with the advent of motorized laundry, Harbin also remembers a conversation she had with her mother at the age of four.
“We were washing dishes in a pot — we didn’t have a sink — and I turned to my mother and said, ‘Mama, I’m tired.’ She looked at me and said, ‘Honey, you’ve just started.’ ”
Almost a century later, she shows no signs of stopping.
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