Nedra Lucille Holbert Mason was 100 years old July 5. Her daughters, who share a Shinnston home with her, will be taking her to Monongah Baptist Church, 256 Lyndon Avenue at 2-5:30 p.m. Saturday, July 12 for a celebration of her inspirational life.

Daughters Patricia Sue Mason Wells, Class of 1955, in the Monongah High band and the Honor Society during her MHS days, and a long-time nurse, and Pamela Mason Stanholtz, Class of 1970, who works at United Hospital Center in Bridgeport, stagger their shifts so that one will always be home with their centenarian Mom.

The “girls” drive mama from Shinnston to Monongah every Sunday so that Lucille can attend Monongah Baptist Church. She’s been a member almost as long as the building has been there.

I couldn’t find Lucille in my year-by-year Monongah High graduation lists, but the first MHS graduation class, in 1918, included William Fay Holbert, who passed away in 1956. I don’t know if he’s related to Lucille, who was 4 when Bill graduated with Sylvia Swisher, Robert Jones and Dr. Stanley Skarr, the last Class of 1918 survivor from Davis, West Virginia.

Granddaughter Diana is married to Keith Arthur, North Marion Class of 1984.

Patty Mason Wells is the widow of Lyndon Wells, also in her Class of 1955.

Lyndon’s brother, Donnie Wells, set up a blind date for his Fairmont Westinghouse co-worker, David Straight, with another 1955 graduate, Jacqueline Olesky, who was in teacher Mildred Berry’s home room at Monongah High with Donnie. Jackie became Mrs. David Straight and they had four children and four grandchildren. Dave passed away in 1998. Jackie still lives in their family home in Rivesville.

Donnie married Lucy Barta Wells of Idamay and Farmington High School. They had five children, including twin boys who are dentists in Charlotte, North Carolina.

As for the other siblings, Joe Wells married Peggy Clayton, Monongah Class of 1951; Mary Alice Wells became Mrs. Emerson; and Pauline Wells became Mrs. Huffman.

All the Wells siblings are deceased.

Donnie Wells, Jr. also is a Monongah High graduate, Class of 1978.

There are 53,364 Americans who are at least 100 years old, with 80% being women. What makes Lucille extra-special is that she is not living in a retirement complex or nursing home, but with two loving daughters.