THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 15, 1996 TAG: 9609170521
SECTION: REAL LIFE PAGE: K1 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: 59 lines
MARGARET HOFHEIMER
VIRGINIA BEACH, 90 YEARS OLD
ESTHER CAWTHORNE
NORFOLK, 95 YEARS OLD
ESTHER MANDEL
NORFOLK, 85 YEARS OLD
[The text for the above vignettes are not available electronically. For complete text, please see microfilm]
LISABETH ASHBURN
Virginia Beach, 94 years old.
She still attends Bible study and church services at First Presbyterian Church in Virginia Beach every week. She was the first woman elder in the the Norfolk-Virginia Beach presbytery.
Q: Were you very religious? Did you come from a religious home?
Mrs. Ashburn: I still am. I was the first lady - wait a minute, let me get the words right - deacon. No, not deacon. I was the first lady elder in the First Presbyterian Church in Norfolk and Virginia Beach. I told them I didn't want to be, but everybody sitting there told me, `We want you to be!' . . . I think it's wonderful to have the men as deacons and elders rather than ladies. So I didn't want to do it, but they insisted because they wanted some ladies. Yes, I was made an elder. Where is the date on here? 1966.
BELLE FINE
Virginia Beach and Boca Raton, Fla., 89 years old.
Although Mrs. Fine is blind, she has lived independently until recently. She moved to Florida to be near her daughter.
Q: What is the secret of your longevity?
Mrs. Fine: To be happy. . . . Blind as I am and I can't even see you sitting here, I'm happy.
Q: How important do you think a sense of humor is?
Mrs. Fine: Very important. You want to know why I'm smiling. Sometimes, I don't even realize I'm smiling.
Q: Have you always been a hard worker? Were you in business?
Mrs. Fine: My husband had the men's wear, Fine's men's shops. My husband always wanted me down there - especially at holidays and when we were real busy. So I used to go down and work as a cashier.
Q: Have you always had many friends?
Mrs. Fine: Yes, always.
Q: Do you believe in luck?
Mrs. Fine: Luck?. . . Yes, I think I do.
Q: Do you have any regrets about your life?
Mrs. Fine: No, I can't really say I have any regrets. I mean that. I'm telling you the God's honest truth. ILLUSTRATION: SUZANNE SYNDER JACOBSON PHOTOS by CNB