One century old
36, 540 days
100 birthdays
Nine year old Camryn Pinckard has access to more history than she could ever read in a textbook.
She just has to drop by her Great-Granddaddy’s house for a visit. “I go to his house sometimes just to talk,” commented Camryn. There is one thing that might hinder Camryn’s visit though; her Great-Granddaddy might be busy.
F.L. Pinckard born in Coffee County, Alabama on September 16, 1914 stays busy with his hobbies, friends and family. Why wouldn’t he? He is only 100 years old.
He recently threw out the first pitch at the Blue Wahoos baseball game. Two weeks ago he canned pears from his own yard to have for this winter. “It took me a whole day to core them,” Pinckard said. “Then a whole day to can them.”
His familyt hosted a birthday celebration in his honor. His party was exactly what any man could want; décor celebrating his favorite thing to do in life, fish.
The fish tales were abundant. Story after story sharing how much Pinckard liked to fish. Apparently, he always invited others to go with him with a couple conditions: you had to be ready to go by 5 A.M. and you could not bring anything to eat with you. “Catch you something to eat or not eat,” Pinckard added.
Pinckard doesn’t speak about much of his past 100 years. He moved to the current Five-Points area to farm. He purchased 80 acres that included a small shotgun house. The same home where he raised his family and still lives.
“My brother has always been a hard working fellow,”85 year old Billy Pinckard shared. “There is 15 years between us. I remember him working, building rocking chairs or anything to support his family.”
When one ask about the condition of society back then Pinckard doesn’t really reply. He thinks about those days but will share very little. “Times were hard. They were hard for everyone,” he added.
“One hardly ever had Santa Claus come visit. If he did the most he left was an apple, an orange and a piece of stick candy,” he remarked.
During his fourth grade year of school, Pinckard had to stop attending school and go to work. Something he has been doing ever since.
Pinckard remembers his first car. He chuckles like a little boy that is treasuring secrets. “I had a 49 Ford,” he laughed.
There was electricity in the Woodbine area when he relocated to Santa Rosa County but there was no roadway in front of his house as it is now.
“I farmed that land until they needed it for the road,” he reminisced. “They paid me a little for the land but not near what is was worth. I had fences out there that they tore up and didn’t repair.”
Pinckard’s philosophy about how he has lived his life is simple, treat everyone right.
“I never thought about living this long,” he stated. “My siblings have lived to older years as well.” Pinckard’s wife Neta Pinckard passed away several years ago. “She was a good woman,” Pinckard commented. “She sure was a good cook.”
From that marriage they had four children: Earl Flynn Pinckard, Lana Rosalind Pinckard, Jack Rogers Pinckard and James Tharold Pinckard. His only daughter Lana Rosalind Pinckard was killed in an automobile accident in 1969. Pinckard stares off, silently when ask about her.
Numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren have blessed his family.
The stories were numerous and entertaining at Pinckard’s birthday celebration. “I went coon hunting with him one time. I promised myself if I ever got home I would never go again,” added friend Clearance Cook. “We walked across logs in the river; we went through thick briar patches. I had decided I did not care if we ever killed a coon.”
Pinckard’s stories of coon and fox hunting bring a deep laughter from him. “One time we killed 20 squirrels and 5 coons,” he added.
Pinckard is 100 years old. He has experienced the growth of his precious Woodbine area. He can list for you exactly every business that has been built around his home. “I have only been to What-A -Burger a couple times,” Pinckard shared. “Their hamburgers aren’t as good as mine.”
He expresses his gratitude for all the work his family put into his birthday celebration. Friends and family filled the Pace Community Center to celebrate his birthday and also to honor him for how he had touched each one of their lives.
“I guess one friend felt sorry for me,” Pinkard’s posture changes as he adds with pride, “She brought me five jars of pears.”
Little did anyone know that Pickard’s kitchen counter top was full with cans of pears. The ones a 100 year old gentleman prepared in his own home.
Pinckard adds one last comment, “I hope when my time comes that I don’t have an enemy in the world.”
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: One CENTURY old