Calvary Baptist Church celebrates congregant turning 104 years old

Lillian B. Washington, formerly of Saluda, turned 104 years old this week and her family, community and congregation at Calvary Baptist Church at Christchurch celebrated her birthday on Sunday at the church.

When she was nearly 90 years old, Mrs. Washington was still working as a nurse’s aid for Bay Agency in Urbanna. She was a nurse’s aid for the agency since 1996 and only retired due to age.

Her life in Middlesex

She grew up in the Locust Hill area just a little further down the road from where she lived as an adult at Cooks Corner on Montague Road. She now lives at Walter Reed Convalescent Center in Gloucester.

She grew up in Calvary Baptist Church at Christchurch. Mrs. Washington went to Mill Road Elementary School, a school that was established by Calvary Church in 1926. She later went to the all-Black secondary school at Locust Hill.

She did not finish high school, a norm for those times. While she was in school, her father and mother had five other children in school at the same time and had to buy books for all of them.

“It won’t no way Daddy could buy all of us books, so I quit,” she said, “and went to live with my uncle in Norfolk.”

Mrs. Washington worked for her cousin in Norfolk who was running a confectionary store. She worked there until she was in her 20s. She later moved back to Middlesex, married and went to work for the Walter Boyd Hurley family in Urbanna as a housekeeper.

“I learned a lot about helping people from Walter Boyd and Margaret (Hurley),” said Mrs. Washington. “When I came home, I wanted to buy a piece of land and build a house but the bank wouldn’t lend me any money. They didn’t know me and were not anxious to help.

“I had worked for Mr. and Mrs. Hurley for 20 years and when I needed help they went to the bank, talked to the people and they lent me the money,” she said. “I’m proud of my house. I paid every penny I owed the bank back and never had a late payment.” Her grandson, Jimmy Kidd, said this week that his grandmother loves her home and talks about one day moving back.

Mrs. Washington also loves her church and sang in two choirs at Calvary Baptist Church for many years. The church too has not forgotten her as over 80 people showed up for her birthday party Sunday.