106 and counting

Goodwater resident, ‘church mother’ honored in special service Sunday

By Dale Liesch (Contact) | Alex City Outlook

Published Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Sunday’s church service at St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church in Goodwater was more than praise and worship as the congregation also gathered to celebrate the 106th birthday of one of its mothers.

Mary Ann Knight has been a member of St. James since she married her second husband and has been coming there to worship ever since.

“It means everything to me,” Mary Ann Knight said of the church and the special Sunday service.

Roosevelt Knight, her step-grandson and son of her third husband, Glover Knight, knows how much the Goodwater church means to her.

“I think she’s very appreciative to have the church celebrate this milestone with her,” he said.

While the church means a lot to her, she means a lot to the church and the community as well. In addition to serenading her, the Rev. John R. Leonard built his Sunday sermon around her as he spoke of mothers.

“When she comes to church she brings love and understanding. She unifies the church because of her knowledge of the church,” Leonard said. “She is the example for young people as well as the other generation.

“She sets the standard for every mother,” he said. “She draws individuals to the church and herself.”

Mary Ann Knight even drew the attention of the city government as Goodwater Mayor Lonnie Caldwell made Oct. 3, 2009, which was her 106th birthday, Mary Ann Knight Day in Goodwater. In addition, Gov. Bob Riley sent a letter inducting Mary Ann Knight into the Alabama Century Club. U.S. President Barack Obama also sent Knight a letter of recognition, which she said she was thrilled about.

Friends and family members in the congregation also joined in the praise of the church’s oldest member.

“We are here to celebrate Sister Knight, but I call her mama,” said church member Mary L. Leonard. “She’s a sweet person and she deserves all the praising she can get.”

Mary Ann Knight was born in Waverly and moved to Goodwater as an adult. She said her secret to a good, long life is hard work and devotion.

“I started with church when I was a little girl,” Mary Ann Knight said.

She is hard working, according to Roosevelt Knight, who said she still cooks, chops wood and, until April, was driving.

“She’s very independent,” Roosevelt Knight said. “She does everything for herself.”

The biggest surprise for Mary Ann Knight in 106 years of life was watching the election of Obama.

“I didn’t think I would live to see a president of my color,” she said. “It says a lot about our country and how it has changed.”

---

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE THIS STORY?

---