GENEALOGY

   Lucy Etta (NOLES) Green

  d/o  Zachariah Henry NOLES  (1872 - 1951)

  s/o  William Parker NOLES, C.S.A.  (1840 - c 1890)

  s/o  Zachariah NOLES  (1818 - c 1878)

  s/o  Dennis M. NOLES  (1782 - 1877)

  s/o  Zachariah KNOWLES  (1742 - 1818)

  s/o  Richard KNOWLES, Sr.  (1715 - 1791)

  s/o  Edmund "Old Silverhead" KNOWLES  (1685 - 1762)
[Knowles Progenitor: Delaware #01 (Sussex)]

At 105, Lucy Noles Green Doesn't Live in the Past
by Penny L. Pool

(based on January 11, 2006 article from: The Randolph.com Leader, Randolph Co., Alabama)

Born in 1900, before cars, washing machines, computers and airplanes, Lucy Noles Green does not live in the past.  Her grandchild recently gave her an automated truck and she has been zipping it around by remote control, running over everybody, according to family members.

Holding court in her wheelchair, her bright blue eyes taking everybody and everything in, it is hard to believe she turned 105 years old Dec. 31, 2005.   Her big smile accompanies her laughter as she tells stories of things that happened long ago.  She has never lived more than four miles from where she was born and raised in the Hawk community east of Woodland, but that never stopped her from learning and doing whatever she wanted to do, whether it was plowing or learning to play the organ.

She raised five sons with her husband, Thomas Emmett Green, a World War I veteran who died in 1982 after 60 years of marriage.  Her sons, Hayden and Hulen, both died of cancer in 1997.  Her son and his wife, Thomas and Shelby Green, live next door, and Vernon lives nearby.  Her other son, Travis, and his wife, Linda, live in Bowden, Henry Co., Gaeorgia.

She had 11 brothers and sisters. Only one brother still lives - in an Anniston nursing home.

When asked after burying so many family members if she was still glad to be here, she said firmly, loudly and without hesitation: "I certainly am."  She said she enjoys life.

She never worked outside the home but worked hard at home, working the fields and plowing. She even plowed with a steer.  When a family member said she would not plow with a new mule, she did not hesitate to take the reins and say "Well, I will."

It was that take-charge attitude that propelled her into the seat of the first car she had ever seen.  When the 12-year-old got back from the ride the driver could not remember how he had cranked the car.  She pointed to the part and told him,  "You turn that."

Her sons also plowed.  They never had a tractor.  The boys helped wash, clean and carry water.   They helped her can, work the garden and kill hogs.

"I guess she had to be tough with five boys," Thomas said.   He adds that in 1997 her doctor told her she could live 10 more years.  "She has two more to go," he said.   She was also told her heart was that of a 16-year-old.

She did lose her legs but Shelby, an R.N., said that did not have to be.

"Perhaps a fear of falling kept her from trying to walk after falling and breaking her hip," Shelby said.  Due to circulation problems, both legs had to be amputated within a six-month period.

Her son, Thomas, said they have kept her in her home and taken good care of her, and that is one reason she is doing so well.   Her caretaker, Barbara Brown, who lives in a trailer behind the house, is another reason, he said.

Barbara said Lucy Green told her one day, "I'm too mean to die."

Lucy Green watches the news every day,  keeps up with everything going on in the community, and religiously reads The Randolph Leader, her family says.   Her eyesight is excellent.

In terrific physical condition for a person 105 years old, her worst physical problem is her hearing.  Her daughter-in-law, Shelby, is the go-between, shouting questions to her.

It is remarkable to hear her talk about events of 80 years ago with an obviously clear memory.

A newer memory is her birthday celebration New Year's Day.

"She had a ball," Shelby said.   The stud earrings in Lucy Green's ears sparkle as she ducks her head like a little bird.   Shelby pierced them for her when she was in her 80s.  "She always has to wear jewelry and be properly groomed", Shelby said.  "Always weighing about 100 pounds, if she gained a pound or two she would say she was getting fat," Shelby said.   Her lovely thick white hair would be the envy of someone 30 years her junior.

When asked what she got for her birthday, she smiles and holds up the small change purse she always has with her.   Shelby Green said she loves money and was excited to get $71 for her birthday.   Her friends and fellow church members at Providence Baptist Church were told she has everything she wants or needs so most people gave cards, attention or money.

Shelby said 50 or more people visited Sunday, not counting those who came to the modest little home on Saturday, Monday and Tuesday.

But that isn't the first time she has been celebrated in the past few months.  Lucy is the oldest member in the UDC?   During the annual convention in Birmingham September 22-24, 2005, Lucy was honored as the "Oldest New Member," in Alabama of the Alabama United Daughters of the Confederacy.

It was then learned she was the oldest new member in the United States.  The Certificate of Award was presented at the Annual General Convention of the United Daughters of the Confederacy in San Diego, Calif. November 4-7, 2005.

Lucy is now the oldest new member of the UDC and possibly the oldest UDC member in the nation.  However, that is not verifiable, according to Lynda Lowery, president of the Major General Patrick R. Cleburne 2632, Heflin UDC Chapter.   She has checked with national headquarters and was told that is not how the records are kept.   "But it is possible she is the oldest member," she said.

Lucy Green was admitted on the record of her grandfather, William Parker Noles, Company E. 34th Georgia Infantry, Lowery said.   UDC members Lowery, Patricia Harrington and Janice Eason presented her UDC membership certificate to her at her home.

While Lucy Green clearly remembers her grandfather, who did not die until she was grown with a child of her own, she knows little of his war service.

With glee she recounts a tale he told her of how hungry his outfit was during the war and they killed, cooked and ate one of the mules.

Lucy's grandfather (William Parker Noles, C.S.A.) lived with her parents, Zackariah Henry and Gena "Ginnie" Gertrude (Brown) Noles, when he was older.   "Lucy's parents lived until they were in their 70s or 80s," she said.  They are buried at Providence Baptist Church.

Thomas Green said he feels it is an honor that his mother was inducted into the UDC.   Lucy Green's neighbor, Patricia Harrington, learned about her grandfather who served in the Confederacy, Lowery said, and they began researching his history.   "Everything has to be verified," she said.

Harrington is a member of the chapter.  She mentioned Lucy might be eligible to join the UDC and the family was very interested in her joining, Lowery said. "We went to the library and courthouse.  You have to prove every generation with marriage and cemetery records. Of course, with Mrs. Green it was not that many generations back," Lowery said.

Lowery said their chapter started in June 2003, but she has been a member of the Calhoun County Chapter for many years.  She is the organizing president and said they have several members in Randolph County, particularly in the Woodland area.

"Members of the organization join because they want to honor their Confederate ancestry, to study history of the Confederacy and to do projects," Lowery said. "Our group has a lot of professional women, such as retired teachers," she said.   Nationally, members range from age 17 to 105 years of age.

"Our chapter sponsors five students for college scholarships," she said.  The scholarships are given in the fall and vary from $400 to $1,400 a year.  They also take items to veterans in the Heflin area and have grown so much they are talking about honoring veterans on Veterans Day in other areas.  They have also given big donations to the Anniston-Calhoun County Library, which she said is the area library for genealogy and has been very helpful in their genealogy research.

Harrington, who attended the birthday gala, said Lucy Greene was absolutely "the belle of the ball."  She said of Mrs. Green: "She's endured life this long -- she has to be a lady who has backbone and fortitude."

She could probably still go to church but her skin is so fragile it bruises and tears when they pick her up to put her in the car.  "She last went to church when she was 102 for the church's sesquicentennial celebration,"  Shelby said.

So she enjoys her visitors, her family, including her 14 grandchildren, of which four are granddaughters.  Up until a couple of years ago she could still quilt and sew.  She made all her boys shirts when they were growing up.

"In those days you had to have several quilts on the bed due to the cold," Travis said.

What makes Lucy Green happy is watching the news, peppermint sticks, boiled vegetables and turkey and dressing.   The days of rolling up the carpet and dancing or playing the organ are gone, but she still remembers those Christmases when someone would play the fiddle or banjo and everyone would dance.