Marcus Tullius Cicero said that old age is the crown of life, “Our play’s last act.”
On Friday, April 29, Cora Newman Williams Thigpen turned 106 years old.
A silver-haired titan of Madison County, Cora was born in 1910 to Mary and Samuel Newman of Lafayette County.
When she was merely five years old, Cora lost her father in a sawmill accident. Later, her mother would remarry and her second husband, George McClamma took on the role of father in young Cora’s life and raised her as his own.
Cora grew up during the era of The Great Depression and as such, she learned to make do, endure and face difficult situations with grace and strength.
Cora’s children agreed that even though times were tough and times and resources were limited, she was a woman of extreme determination, commitment and conviction.
She always kept her children fed, clothed and always saw to it that they attended church and were always on their best behavior.
Cora married Shelly Sylvestor Williams and together, they were the parents of nine children, five of whom are still living: Edgar, Raymond, Barbara, Bonnie and Carroll.
After her first husband’s death, Cora was a widow for 18 years before marrying David Thigpen.
Through marrying David, Cora received seven stepchildren: Thomas, W.H., Lorene, Lue Ella, Lily Mae, Myritce and Myrtle.
Cora has multiple grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren and great-great-great-grandchildren; to each and every one of them, she has sought to be a valuable influence in their lives.
Throughout her life, Cora has lived with a passionate zest; some of her fondest memories include family get-togethers filled with southern comfort food, fun and fellowship; gardening, as she has always loved bright colored flowers and kept a neat and tidy garden; quilting parties where close friends were invited over to work on a joint quilt, laugh, joke and gossip; fishing, where they would dig worms for bait and fish with a cane pole; southern gospel music; listening to the Grand Ole Opry on the back porch; Sunday church meetings with church dinner on the grounds and feeding her chickens.
Cora Newman Williams Thigpen is a living legacy. Throughout her life, she has suffered much heartache in her life; including the loss of her father, mother, her two husbands, a brother, a grandson in Vietnam and four beloved children. She has also lived through The Great Depression and fought hard for her family to have what she did not.
“Mom worked hard all her life,” said Cora's children.
However, perhaps Cora's greatest legacy is the love she has for her family, friends, community and above all, her Lord.
Cora's daughters fondly remember sitting beside Cora at the piano and singing Beulah Land when they were young.
The chorus of Beulah Land says, “Beulah land I'm longing for you, and some day on thee I'll stand. There my home shall be eternal...” The lyrics speak true to Cora's life, for she has no doubt where she will stand one day; she continues to fight the good fight, live her life with the same strength instilled in her at birth and, more importantly, point her family towards Jesus.