My grandmother, Lillie Weaver Austin, would have turned age 99 this year. She was born April 8, 1909, in Starkville, Miss., and died Feb. 14, 2000, at age 90.
Her death came two years after my grandfather, William Henry Austin, died April 25, 1998. He was born March 25, 1912. As far as I know he lived in two communities in Oktibbeha County, one of which was called Sand Creek, but is now known as Clayton Village in Starkville.
At the time of their deaths my grandparents lived in the rural community of Rock Hill, now because of an expanded city limits starts at the northern edge of Starkville, also my hometown.
With 99 and Beyond we honor the life and memory of my grandparents and the life and times of all senior citizens -- their past, present and future.
Proverbs 20:29 says ... "the beauty of glory of old men is the grey head." And Proverbs 16:31 says, "The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness."
It's just wonderful to know that people actually live up to 100 years and older, when, according to Holy Scriptures, mankind is now only reckoned 70 years.
In the beginning, people lived hundreds of years. Most Christians have read the list of patriachs named in Genesis 5.
Methuselah is named as the oldest man to have lived: 969 years. If he had lived another 31 years, he would have spent exactly one day on Earth, according to God's timing of a day.
2 Peter 3:8 says, "But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. "
Psalm 90:4 -- "For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesteday when it is past, and as a watch in the night."
Because of sin, the hundreds of years eventually were reduced to 120 years, according to Genesis 6:3. Sin again caused God to reduce the promise of a lifespan to 70 years.
I read some where that just 70 years ago, an average lifetime would have ranged from 35 to 50 years. Now, with medical advancements, many Americans are expected to live well into their 80s and higher. Depending on factors such as gender, race, environment, and economic status, the average varies widely.
In respect to senior citizens, 99 and Beyond also hopes to offer information relevant to our elders long before we have to say goodbye. We will try to add some generational history, but stay current with issues facing those living and hoping to live full and rich lives for many tomorrows.
Call your friends and join us. Add your comments freely about what you feel, think and need.
Thanks for the conversation.
