Our Interview with Resident Dorothy Beaty
Where did you grow up?
Dorothy grew up in West Union South Carolina. She was born on May 12, 1910 and so this year will be 102 on her birthday. She grew up with one younger sister who was 10 years younger than her who died recently.
What are some of your favorite memories from your childhood?
Dorothy states that one of her favorite memories from childhood was visiting her grandparents in Union New York. She remembers that family would travel by train to New York and it was a thrill to sleep on the train. She has wonderful memories of visiting grandparents and other family memories as well. Some of her family lived on a lake and it was fun to swim in the lake in the summer time.
What are some of your favorite memories from your adulthood?
Her favorite memories is working in the family lumber yard. She worked in the office doing paper work and payroll. She also has good memories getting married to William Chester Beaty on June 6, 1944 and they were married for 30 plus years.
Did you have a profession?
Dorothy did office work in family lumber business doing payroll and doing various paper work.
Which accomplishment in your life do you feel most proud of?
During the War she worked at night for the red cross packing medical supplies for the troops and she also taught Sunday School and was the Superendent of the Sunday School for a number of years.
Is there anything in life you wish to share with someone just graduating from college?
Dorothy states that her only advice is to know what you are interested in doing and work towards being able to do that. She states that she graduated from Queens College in 1931 and majored in English and Bible.
What brought you assisted living in Stockbridge, GA?
Dorothy states that she was living by herself in South Carolina and her sister who was living in Forest Park wanted her closer to her and so sister arranged for her to come to Dogwood Forest to live.
How do you enjoy assisted living here at Dogwood Forest’s Stockbridge, GA community?
She states that she really appreciated that her sister and now her niece wanted her to be at Dogwood Forest so that she can get the help that she needs. She really likes it at Dogwood Forest. She thinks that the reason she has lived so long is that the Lord must not be ready for her in heaven yet. She states that she enjoys the activities here and really likes staying active and walking inside and outside of the community.
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Our Interview with Resident Bonnie Harvey
Where did you grow up?
Bonnie states that she grew up in Falconer, New York. She was born on March 12, 1932. She had one older brother growing up.
What are some of your favorite memories from your childhood?
Bonnie states that she enjoyed going to visit her grandparents who lived in Sandusky, New York. She states that they lived on a hill and had no electricity or running water. She remembers her grandmother making homemade goodies and deserts and she remembers grandmother would save newspapers with comics in them and she and her brother would read those comics while visiting grandparents. She remembers that her father ran a meat market and was a preacher. She had a close friend and close friend had a sister and the three of them sang in a trio and they would be invited to sing all over the place gospel music.
What are some of your favorite memories from your adulthood?
Bonnie states that she graduated from high school and went to Bible College which was a lot of fun. She remembers that her family moved to Alburquerque New Mexico. She states that she met her future husband there, Lee Harvey. They married and had three kids, 1 girl and 2 boys. Her husband was career military and they lived in a lot of neat places including the Philippines in the 1960’s.
Did you have a profession?
Bonnie states that she was mainly a housewife and mother but she also worked for a time as a cashier in a supermarket and she was part of a singing Trio for a long time. She also worked for a time in the commissary for the military.
What accomplishments in life do you feel most proud of ?
Bonnie stated that she was most proud of being married to a wonderful husband and had three kids, 1 girl and 2 boys and she has 5 grandchildren.
Is there anything that you have learned in life you wish to share with someone just graduating from college?
Bonnie stated “ have a relationship with God and make sure that you pursue a job that you have prepared to do while in college.”
Is there anything that you have learned in life you wish to share with someone just starting a family?
Bonnie stated “Pray a lot because you are going to need the help.”
What brought you to assisted living here at Dogwood Forest’s Stockbridge, GA community?
Bonnie states that her husband of 40 plus years died 3 years ago after being in a VA facility for 2 years and afterwards she was not able to take care of herself with her having problems related to diabetes and so she came to Dogwood Forest where she could be close to oldest daughter and middle son.
How do you enjoy assisted living at Dogwood Forest’s Stockbridge, GA location?
Bonnie states that she is very happy at Dogwood Forest. She likes the staff that work here and she likes the other Residents who live here. She likes that her daughter can visit her often and she goes out to eat with her middle son every week.
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Henry Shows How Music Can Ignite Your Spirit
This video proves that music is powerful. It can truly move the human spirit.
I’ve written before on the benefits of music therapy for seniors with cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer’s. But this is fantastic. Henry, a nursing home resident, had been seemingly “lost” for years due to the affects of Alzheimer’s disease on his brain. However, when staff members would place headphones on his ears that was connected to a iPod playing his favorite musician, Cab Calloway, his cognitive senses were awakened. His love for music was resurrected, and the melodies fully ignited his spirit. Henry was instantly transformed.
We have been working on a new initiative at Dogwood Forest called “5 Sense Therapy.” This is the brain child of Cecily Curl, who is a woman of faith and wisdom. She understands that a resident is not lost simply because they have Alzheimer’s disease. They are still there just waiting to be engaged. We believe in music therapy for seniors at Dogwood Forest of Eagles Landing, our assisted living in Stockbridge, Ga. We are excited about the progress we have seen in our residents at our assisted living in Stockbridge, Ga. Check out the video below to see why people are starting to believe in music therapy.
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Our Interview with Resident Jaunita R Hogan
Where did you grow up?
Jaunita grew up in Summerville, Georgia in North Georgia. She grew up the oldest child with 3 sisters and 3 brothers. She graduated from high school.
What are some of your favorite memories from your childhood?
Jaunita remembers time that she spent with her father growing up. She states that her father was never too busy to spend time playing with
her when she was a child. She states that her father was a laborer and worked very hard but always would take time to play with Jaunita and the other children. Jaunita also remembers making string quilts when she was a small girl (maybe 7 years old) and she remembers the first string quilt that she
ever made.
What are some of your favorite memories from your adulthood?
Jaunita states that her favorite memories from adulthood were being a mother and a grandmother. She states that she had two sons and she made a point of going to all of her son’s school activities, including all of the football games. Jaunita states that she was a grade mother and helped out with a lot of the activities at her son’s school. She remembers being in a show at her son’s school and all the mothers learned to do the Charleston and they all wore same outfit and danced as part of the program.
Did you have a profession?
Jaunita states that she first worked in a beauty shop as a hairdresser, she worked in a glove mill making gloves, she was a salesclerk ,and worked for 26 years at DeKalb Medical Center first in the office and then the communication center as a switchboard operator. She retired from DeKalb Medical Center in 1987.
Do you remember what was happening in your life during a significant event in US History?
Jaunita states that she remembers being on the phone with her aunt telling her that Jaunita’s mother in law had just died when her aunt told her that she has just heard that John F. Kennedy had just been shot and killed. She states that she had really loved Kennedy and it was a shock to learn that he had been killed.
She also remembers the end of WWII and being in Summerville GA and the town had a large street dance party but she was unable to go to the dance because she had just got home from the with her first baby from the hospital.
Which accomplishments in your life do you feel most proud?
Jaunita states that she is most proud of being a grandmother. She states that she spent a lot of time with her grandchildren and helped raise
them and she was very close to her grandchildren and played a major role in their upbringing. Jaunita also states that she was very proud of being a mother and raising her two sons to become fine men and her involvement in their school activities.
Is there anything that you’ve learned in life you wish to share with someone graduating from college?
Jaunita stated “don’t be so quick to criticize other’s, things are not always as they seem to be.”
Is there anything that you’ve learned in life you wish to share with someone just starting a family?
Jaunita stated “have a lot of patience. When you are young you don’t always have all the patience you need with small children but it takes a lot of patience to raise children.”
What brought you to Dogwood Forest’s assisted living community here in Stockbridge, GA?
Jaunita states that she had several health problems over about a six month period including breaking her arm and hip and several heart attacks. Then, she had several seizures and, when it was time to leave the hospital, her son and daughter-in-law insisted that she could not manage at home since her husband had health problems of his own and would not be able to care for Jaunita. So her son and daughter-in-law found Dogwood Forest’s assisted living community at Eagles Landing in Stockbridge, GA and made arrangements first for Juanita to be admitted, and then her husband joined her. Jaunita states that her son made the decision for her to come to Dogwood Forest but she thanks him often for making that decision with her being very content here.
How do you enjoy Dogwood Forest?
Juanita states that next to living at home that Dogwood Forest is the best place for her to be. She seems very content and satisfied at Dogwood Forest.
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Our Interview with Resident Julia Morgan
Where did you grow up?
Julia was born on Dec. 19, 1916 in Asheville, N.C. She grew up in family of 7 children 5 girls and 2 boys and she was one of the middle children. She lived in Ashville until about 1961 and she and her husband moved to the Atlanta area.
What are some of your favorite memories from your childhood?
When she was young, she stole a pig from a farmer who was selling animals and produce in town of Asheville and she took it home and hid it in her closet and dressed the pig in doll clothes. When her parents found out that she took the pig they made her return the pig and admit to the farmer what she had done and she says that she never took what did not belong to her ever again. Another favorite memory from her childhood was that she and her sister participated in an Easter Parade in Asheville and pushed a wagon in the parade.
What are some of your favorite memories from adulthood?
She got married to husband Dwite Morgan at the age of 19 and they were happily married for over 60 years. Julia talks often about owning and riding Harley Davidson motorcycles with her uncle owning a Harley Davidson dealership and she and her husband would go on various trips on their motorcycles including to Florida many times. Julia also competed in a Miss Daytona Beach Beauty contest. She did not win but got a free swim suite for competing in the contest.
Did you have a profession?
She was mainly a housewife and mother but did have a few brief jobs and did various volunteer work over the years.
Do you remember what was happening during a significant time in US History?
Julia remembers hearing about the end of WWII and how happy everyone was. She remembers being able to talk to her husband about the end of the war and that he would be home soon.
What accomplishments are you most proud of?
She had a very happy marriage with her husband Dwite Morgan of over 60 years and they had two wonderful daughters who turned out great and she has wonderful grandchildren that she is very proud of and close to to this day.
Is there anything that you have learned that you would like to share with someone just graduating from college?
Julia says that her best advice is to always associate with good people and get a job that you like and live a good life doing good for others.
Is there anything that you have learned that you would like to share with someone starting a family?
Julia states to always love your children and have patience with them and teach them the right way to live and have a strong relationship with the Lord.
What brought you Dogwood Forest’s assisted living community here in Stockbridge, GA?
Prior to coming to Dogwood Forest, Julia had lost a lot of her vision and it was not safe for her to live alone anymore. Her doctor advised her and her family that she should no longer live alone and so Julia and her daughter looked at several assisted living communities in Stockbridge, GA and chose Dogwood Forest because the admissions director was so friendly and they loved that the community had a dog (and so the place had to be great!). She also loved that Dogwood Forest served wine to Residents at supper.
How do you enjoy Dogwood Forest?
Julia states that she loves it here. That she loves the other Residents and the staff who help take care of her and she loves that there is always fun things to do here. Whenever she feels down, she gets out of her room and does things that help lift her mood. Julia’s daughter states that she does not think that her mother would still be alive if she was not at Dogwood Forest. Julia also is very happy that her daughter is local.
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Our Interview With Resident Margaret Crumbley
Where did you grow up?
Henry County, McDonough, Georgia.
What are some of your favorite memories from your childhood?
Visiting her aunt in the country in Henry County. She remembers it being the most wonderful place in the world with it being completely different from living in the city of McDonough of that time. Margaret remembers all the wonderful food that they had from their garden in the country.
What are some of your favorite memories from your adulthood?
Margaret responded “That’s easy, raising my 4 children, 2 boys and 2 girls. I loved being a mother.”
What was your profession?
Margaret states that she worked for 24 years as a Social Worker as a state employee working with families covering all of Henry County. She did this during the 50’s and 60’s and retired in 1970 a year early when her husband got sick and she needed to be at home full time caring for him.
Do you remember what was happening in your life during significant time in US History?
Margaret states that when Pearl Harbor was attacked it was a Sunday afternoon and she was at her sister’s home and she remembers how shocked everyone was with the news. When World War Two was over she remembers being with her mother in law and how happy she was that her son would soon be coming home and how happy everyone was with the news.
Which accomplishments in life are you most proud of?
Margaret states that she is most proud of her children with them all very successful with her two sons both being Superior Court Judges in Henry County and her daughter has been very active concerning Henry County and the history of Henry County and daughter knows a lot about family history and history of Henry County.
Is there anything that you have learned that you wish to share with someone just graduating from college?
Margaret states that she has always tried not to give advice to others. She states that one thing she has learned in her 97 years of life is how little she knows.
What brought you to assisted living in Dogwood Forest’s Stockbridge, GA community?
Margaret states that she had been living alone and she fell and broke her arm and bruised her whole body and was first in hospital and then a Rehab facility and her family felt that she should not live alone again. They wanted to find a place where she would be happy and her family found Dogwood Forest’s assisted living community close to home in Stockbridge, GA. Margaret states that she has been very happy here. That she feels very loved and well taken care of by staff here and her family does everything that they can to see that she is happy and well cared for here. Margaret is as active as she can be here going to the dining room for her meals and interacting with others in the dining room and in her room and she gets exercise walking to the dining room and the front desk to mail letters.
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Our Interview with Resident Roger Coleman Preu
What are some of your favorite memories from your childhood?
Roger states that while growing up he lived near a large city park and he played more in the park then he did at home. In winter he would skate and play hockey on the frozen pond in the park. He also loved working in the garden and his family raised chickens related to living through the great depression.
What are some of your favorite memories from your adulthood that you look back on from your home here at Dogwood Forest’s assisted living community in Stockbridge, GA?
Roger states favorite memories include meeting his wife Thelma and getting married to her, the birth of his 4 children, 2 girls and 2 boys, and he was involved in WW II as a lead bombardier on a B24’s with many missions over Germany.
Did you have a profession?
He was active duty in WW II in the Army / Air Force and remained in reserves for 29 years and obtained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and he earned a Distinguished Flying Cross and a Air Medal with four clusters. He also worked in a high school first as an art teacher and then became head of the arts department for a large high school for a total of 42 years.
What do you remember you were doing during significant events in history?
When Pearl Harbor was attacked, Roger was in college studying in his room listening to the radio when he heard the news and when John F. Kennedy was shot he was at his desk at school working in the high school and a student came up to him and asked if he had heard the news that the President had been shot and he remembers being very surprised at the news.
What accomplishment in your life do you feel most proud of?
He states that he is most proud that he helped raise 4 children who are all very different but they are a very close family to this day.
Is there anything that you have learned that you wish to share with someone graduating from college?
Roger states that you learn something from failure just as much as from your successes so don’t despair when something in life goes wrong.
Is there anything that you have learned that you wish to share with someone starting a family?
Raising a family is not always roses but you can’t beat it.
What brought you to Dogwood Forest Eagles Landing?
After having a very bad fall, he was first in the hospital and then a rehab center and he realized that he could not stay in his daughters home by himself during the day while she worked and friends of the family recommended Dogwood Forest and so he came here.
How do you enjoy assisted living here at Dogwood Forest in Stockbridge, GA?
Roger states that things have worked out fine here. He especially likes being around other people and he can pick and choose how active he wants to be versus staying to himself in his room. Roger has also taken on having the community pet Beau in his room at night to sleep and he takes Beau on walks often and helps look after him especially at night which he loves to do.
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Our Interview with Resident William Alburn (AB) Grier
Where did you grow up?
Elmore County Alabama. In the country.
What are some of your favorite memories from your childhood?
Swimming in the creek, opossum hunting, riding his bicycle to Montgomery 32 miles to visit a friend, playing basketball.
What are some of your favorite memories from your adulthood?
Being married to his wife for 61 years, 3 beautiful daughters, 3 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.
Did you have a profession?
Mr. Grier worked in a cotton mill, was an American National Insurance Agent for 20 years and an Auditor for Metropolitan Life Insurance Company for 18 years. He also served in the Navy from 1943-1946.
Do you remember what was happening in your life during a significant event in US History?
When John F Kennedy was assassinated, Mr. Grier was in his office in Lauren Mississippi, and his wife was shopping in a 10 cent store and heard about the assassination of the President and went and told her husband. When the attack on World Trade Center happened on 9/11, Mr. Grier was at home and his son-in-law came and told him about it and he turned the TV on in time to see the second plane hit the other tower.
What accomplishments in your life do you feel most proud of when you look back on your life from the perspective you have now, living in Dogwood Forest assisted living in Eagles Landing?
Marrying his wife Annie.
Is there anything you’ve learned in your life you wish to share with someone who is just graduating college?
Don’t take the first job you are offered. Be selective in the job that you take. The attitude of your boss is very important.
Is there anything you’ve learned in life you wish to share with someone who is just starting a family?
Discuss how to handle family situations that will come up with your spouse before you marry so that you both will know how to handle situations when they come up – and they will.
What brought you to assisted living in Eagles Landing?
A safety issue. Mr. and Mrs. Grier were living at home but Mrs. Grier had very poor vision and she did not feel safe at home even with her husband there, so when opportunity came to come to Dogwood Forest she stated she would feel safe here and so Mr. Grier was OK with coming here.
How do you enjoy Dogwood Forest as your new home?
He likes it just fine. He especially likes that his wife feels safe here.
What is your favorite part of living at Dogwood?
My wife is satisfied here.
Who is your best friend at Dogwood?
Besides his wife, who is also a Resident here, he likes the two men that he eats meals with in the dining room.
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