Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, April 14, 1994 TAG: 9404140039
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LESLIE TAYLOR STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
But Mabel Kennett and Herman Moorman of Roanoke could easily lay claim to the title, were it to exist. The pair celebrated their 91st birthday on Wednesday.
"I'd say that at 91 they stand a pretty good chance of being the oldest living twins in the United States," said Mark Young, editor of the U.S. Guinness Book of Records.
Born on Easter Monday in 1903, Mabel and Herman grew up in South Roanoke with their parents and two brothers - one older and one younger. They married - Mabel to C. Roscoe Kennett, a former city treasurer of Roanoke; Herman to Mary Elizabeth Poole, whom he'd met at the Roanoke YMCA.
The twins, though they remained close, established their own lives. Mabel worked as a lawyer's secretary and raised three stepsons with her husband. Herman worked in the Motive Power department of the old N&W Railway. He and his wife had two sons and a daughter.
Mabel's husband died in 1963. She chose to stay in Roanoke.
Herman retired from N&W and moved to Florida, where he fell into a second career as a hotel manager. When his wife died in the early 1970s, he returned to Roanoke. Eventually, he moved in with Mabel.
The twins were together again. And for 15 years, they remained so.
They talked periodically about moving out of the house and into an adult care home. Mabel was reluctant; Herman more willing.
In February, Herman was hospitalized. He spent time recuperating at the United Methodist Home of Roanoke, on Old Country Club Road in the northwest part of the city.
Though Herman was well enough to return home last month, he decided to stay. He persuaded Mabel to join him. She moved into a room a few doors down from Herman's on April 1.
And as before, the twins are together again.
Mabel is hesitant when a reporter asks about life as a twin, about the uniqueness of celebrating a 91st birthday with her twin brother.
Herman has not yet returned from a doctor's appointment, she explains. As the elder of the pair - by two or three minutes - Herman has always assumed the more agressive role. He should be asked the questions, she says.
Herman swings slowly through the door, a tall lean figure. Mabel goes quiet as he talks of his 10 years as a founding member of the Roanoke's first lifesaving crew - the first in the world. He pulls out newspaper clippings, an old photograph, a magazine article.
"They don't want to hear about that," Mabel says.
Herman talks about life in Miami. He says he wouldn't want to go back. Asked why, he says the city has changed.
"You're not giving them any advice, Herman," Mabel says.
It becomes apparent that Herman has relinquished the upper hand in the siblings' relationship.
"She's the boss now," he says.
The twins can't recall any special treatment while growing up. They got along well, occasionally arguing, as do any brother and sister, they say. They pursued separate interests, though they both had a love of sports.
Even today, "I do what I want to do and he does what he wants to do," Mabel said.
Their niece, Jeannine Moorman Boger, who came up this week from Sanford, N.C. for a family birthday celebration, said they have been like mother and father to her since her parents died.
"They are exceptionally fine people with completely different personalities," Boger said. "They really look after each other."
The folks at Guinness say they would welcome Mabel and Herman to submit their milestone for entry into the record books.
Though Guinness does not have a category - yet - for oldest living twins, it does have one for world's oldest twins of all time. The record is held by Eli and John Phipps of Affinghton, Va.
Eli died in 1911 at the age of 108 years and 9 days. John lived slightly longer.
by CNB