If you turn on the television for a few seconds or flip through the pages of a magazine, it doesn’t take long to recognize that much of our society glamorizes youth. Yet while we often feel the pressure to hang onto so many aspects of our younger years, there is a beauty in aging that goes far beyond what is skin-deep. As the photos that fill our memory-books can attest to, there is a deep richness to life that can only come with experience. And if life is made of experiences, there is no one richer in Anna, TX than Ms. Georgia Mosier.
Ms. Georgia was born on June 2, 1919, exactly 100 years ago today. A lot of things happened that year. Teddy Roosevelt passed away, the Greenbay Packers were founded, Babe Ruth was sold to the NY Yankees for a record-setting $125,000. Prohibition began with the passing of the 18th amendment, WWI ended with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, and women won the right to vote just two days after Ms. Georgia’s birth. While many aspects of life in 1919 would be unfamiliar to us today, there were many events that feel eerily similar: a wave of mail-bombings that began in April struck fear throughout the nation, becoming some of our nation’s first organized acts of domestic terrorism; meanwhile, many of the worst race riots in American history were breaking out throughout the country.
Ms. Georgia’s childhood was shaped by the roaring 20’s and Great Depression of the 1930’s. Shortly after high school graduation, Ms. Georgia moved to Anna in 1939 and has lived here ever since. It’s hard to imagine what it must be like to grow up in one place and watch it change before your very eyes. According to Ms. Georgia, back then everyone knew everyone and she misses that. A few things have remained the same, though. She still attends the very same Methodist church building that she has attended for 80 years, where she still sings some of her favorite songs: Rock of Ages, Amazing Grace and the Old Rugged Cross.
Even though I only briefly met Ms. Georgia, it was apparent that she is a woman of strength. This strength has been passed down through generations and lives on in the women in her life today. Her legacy, kindness and faith have continued to impact our little community for good, as some of her friends have attested to:
“Georgia is the meaning of Anna to me. She has been a person I have known and gone to church with all my life. Always kind and gracious to everyone. A true Christian lady.” –Brenda Hammack
“She is an amazing lady. Truly a woman of God. We could all learn a thing or two from this sweet woman. Happy 100th birthday, Ms. Georgia.” –Charlotte Gladden
“Ms Georgia makes me laugh every time I visit her. I tell her she’s beautiful and she tells me that I need to get my eyes checked. She’s so sweet and smacks me every time I see her. I guess it’s called a “loving pat”. Ms Georgia is one of a kind.” –Carol Chapman
Ms. Georgia, it was such a pleasure getting to meet and photograph you. From all of the Anna community, we wish you the very happiest of birthdays and thank you for all you have done for this community over the past 80 years. Happy 100th birthday!
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Christina Freeman is an award-winning family photographer in Anna Texas, specializing in families, newborns and children in Collin County including Anna, Melissa, Van Alstyne, McKinney, Plano, Princeton, Farmersville, Prosper, Frisco, Wylie, Celina, Little Elm and other Dallas suburbs. Centenarians in the DFW will always receive a complimentary 100th birthday portrait session, so please feel free to contact her if you know of an eligible loved one!