“Youth is happy because it has the capacity to see beauty. Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old.”

― Franz Kafka

 

Leta Tyner Slade of Poplarville has spent more than a century, seeing beauty in others and expressing it through her creative talents. She will celebrate her 107th birthday on April 7.

Slade, a resident of Pearl River County Hospital and Nursing Home since 1999, is known for her compassion for others and creative abilities.

She attributes her longevity to living an active life filled with prayer.

“She has such a sweet nature and showed such a concern about her fellow residents and friends,” Pearl River County Hospital and Nursing Home Administrator Steve Vaughn said. “Her compassion for others is an example to all of us to live a happy 106 years.”

Slade has won many awards through the years for sewing and baking. She was an active participant within the County Extension Service, a member of Springhill Baptist Church where she served as a Ladies Sunday School teacher and was the director of the Women’s Missionary Union for fifty years. She was also a member of the Eastern Star.

Born in 1907 to Hillsdale Judge Arthur Tyner and Ella Baxter, the adventurous young girl would go on to create vivid memories with which she would delight others later in life.

One such story is of an eventful first day of school.

“She and her sister had to cross the creek to get to the school and on the first day of school, Leta, fell in the creek. Her sister pulled her out and her mother kept her out of school until the next year,” said Joseph Lowe, Slade’s son.

Many would have taken that fateful first day as a bad omen, but Slade’s love for learning was not to be dampened easily.

Slade graduated from Pearl River Community College and received a teaching degree from The University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg. She went on to teach at Loyal School before becoming a much loved  “dorm mother” at Pearl River Community College for several years.

Slade has two sons, Joseph Lowe who lives in Denham Springs, La. and Laverne Lowe who lives in Poplarville. She has seven grandchildren, sixteen great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren

“Poplarville is proud of Leta Slade who will turn 107 next week and we are so happy for her,” Poplarville Mayor Brad Necaise said. “Leta has brought so much to Poplarville as a resident and brightened so many lives. We all wish her a very Happy Birthday.

“Additionally, we are thankful to have such a wonderful facility and staff at Pearl River County Hospital and Nursing Home where Leta lives.”