What is your birthday? Where were you born?

"I was born February 11, 1944".

"I was born in my house in McClellanville, South Carolina, the 2nd of 8 children".

What did your parents do for a living?

"My mother Rhoda was a housewife raising 8 children. My father Charles was a gardener for the Charleston Navy Shipyard, after he returned home from the U.S. Army during World War 2."

"We grew and sold farm goods. He was a Master Gardner".

What was your first job? Did you have any other jobs?

"My first job once I left home was in 1961, in an underwear factory in the Bronx, New York making panties. It was low pay and long hours, but I owned nice panties". I was also a housekeeper. And a steam laundry worker,it was hot, steamy and I hated it." "But I made enough to send money back home to help the family".

When did you get your first car and what was it?

"My first car was a 1970 green Chevy Caprise. I was excited when I got it." Your mom was almost born in this car, I took my sister to the hospital you see". I just kept telling her don't ruin my new seats"!

What did you want to be when you were younger?

" When I was young, I always wanted to go in the Army like my daddy. Everyone I knew was in the Army so I wanted to go too. I had to help mommy take care of the house and my brothers and sisters. We worked in the garden a lot. Then I wanted to go live in New York where everything happens, I knew I didn't want to live in the south.

What were some family traditions that you remember?

" We would always celebrate the holidays together as a family and bake. We would bake sweet potato pie, fruit cake, and black berry dumpling." " We sang alot together too".

Who were your heroes or role models growing up?

"My parents were my heroes. They always encouraged me to keep going after my dreams." " They always believed in family always". "Don't forget where you come from."

What world events had the most impact on you while you were growing up?

" When they killed Martin Luther King. He was striving for a better society so that all ethnic groups can live in peace and harmony, together." " When schools were desegregated, there was lots of fighting in the south then".

What was the best advice that your parents gave you?

"To keep your family close no matter what, and love one another always because you never when you are going to need them."

What inventions impacted your life the most?

"The invention that impacted my life the most was the indoor bathroom, I hated the outhouse, gas stoves, no more cooking with a wood stove, and microwave oven."

How did you meet your spouse?

" I met Kenny at a bar in Queens, New York. Mickey's Bar it was a hopping bar back then". We started talking and he was from South Carolina too, the rest was history."

What was your wedding like?

"Small! There was only four people there including me and Kenny. It was a small reception in the Bronx, New York."

Is there anything you would like to accomplish still?

I still would like to travel around the world a little more and experience different cultures, but I probably won't." I've been to Paris, Germany, California, all over the east coast and of course Salina, KS!

What would you want your children and grandchildren to remember you by?

" That I loved my family! That I was kindhearted. I loved to cook and bake and pass down the family recipes to the new generations."

What advice would you give to the next president?

" Think about the people first. Don't make dumb decisions and keep America out of wars."

What age do you feel right now and why?

I feel 72, because I'm retired. I guess I act like I'm 30 because I still want to try the things that young people like to do.

What is your biggest regret?

"I didn't become a millionaire! I haven't won big in the lottery yet. You never know though maybe I will."

What is your proudest moment?

"The proudest moment I have had was watching my children grow up and doing well."

Any advice for teens today?

"Stay in school and keep your eyes on the prize." "Education is vital".