The Wilmington morning star., 1946-11-10
Kennedy Home Cheerful
One For Elderly Women

oldest resident, 9%1-year-old Miss
Sue Cobb, when she called to a
visitor from her seat on the front
porch of the Nina Bear Memorial
annex and proudly declared:
81 have been living here for
more than 80 years and 1 like it
better every year. The capitol OF
every county ought to have a home
for the old. Before the war-the
Civil War, l mean-old folks used
to live with friends and relatives.
Now folks can't do that. Their
friends don't have the plantations
and servants they used to have. I
think this is a grand place to spend
my old age and 1 mean to live to
be a hundred"
Smilingly, she explained that she
had just recently been able to leave
her bed, following a fall IA months
ago when she broke her hip. She
is feeling much better now, how
ever, and is elated over being up
and able to sit on the porch again.
Cheerful Attitude
Her cheerful and contented atti-
tude is shared by the other resi-
dents, who consider themselves
most furtunate to have such a
pleasant home and congenial COM
p~anions with whom to while away
the hours.
Although age prevents them from
leading very active lives, these
women are by nc means idle sit
tiers. Many devote long hours to
useful tasks, and several are quite
adept at handiWork. One of the
ladies is an expert pearl-stringer;
another makes attractive aprons
out of gayly-colored handkerchiefs;
while others r equally skilled at
knitting, crocheting and sewing.
One of the best known residents
is Miss Eliza Murphy, who for
many years has supplied religious
thoughts, known as TOP of the
Morning." for the Wilmington
Morning Star.
Another well-known resident is
Miss Elizabeth A. Chant, who has
retired after being one OF the most
outstanding art teachers in the
community for years.
The ladies take pride in their
home, their rooms and their per-
sonal appearance. A group of more
neatly clad women could not be
seen anywhere. An extra touch of
home is added to the rooms by
the numerous family pictures which
dominate the decorative theme.
Money derived from the sale of
their handiwork helps some of the
residents pay their $50 per month
room and board, while others have
already paid a lifetime entrance
fee of $500. OF course, these sums
cannot begin to cover the expenses
of the upkeep of the institution.
There are 81 residents at present
and the cost of maintenance And
upkeep is approximately So, 00U a
year.
The home is directed by a ma
iron under the watchful eye of a
board of directors which meets
monthly, keeping in close touch
with all matters pertaining to the
home. To become a life resident,
an applicant must have lived in
New Hanover county for at least
five years preceding her applica-
ton.
Generously endowed with tact,
patience and a sense of humor,
Mrs. W. D. HUM, the matron, is
popular with the residents, while
Miss Marguerite Walker, president
of the board of directors, is a ia
vorite with all the elderly ladies'.
The home is sponsored by the
Ladies Benevolent society, which
was organized and Incorporated in
1845 for general charity work. All
of the charity work in Wilmington
at that time was carried on through
this society. In 1879, a small house
was purchased in an obscure part
Of town and used as a home for
aged women. 1t was known as The
Old Ladies' Rest and had six resi-
dents.
In 1893, the Associated Charities
was formed and assumed the bulk
of the work of the Benevolent So
ciety; the society then turned its
attention to providing o ade-
quate facilities for the elderly wom-
en-.
u The present wooden building cost