Newspapers / Morrisville and Preston Progress … / Sept. 27, 1995, edition 1 / Page 5
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Life stays good for Morrisville native Th« Morrisville and Preston Progress, Wednesday, September 27,1995 - 5 Nathaniel Mayo is honored with two awards on his recent 80th birthday By David Laona Nathaniel Mayo is a young man. He is an active participant and as sociate minister at Shiloh Baptist Church in Morrisville. He and his wife Ruby Mae make it five days a wedc to the Luther Green Com munity Center where they go on walks, play "checks" and other • games. When he’s not there, Mayo often spends time in his garden. The only difference between Mayo and a typical young man is his choice of activities and the fact that he just turned 80. For a man bom Sept 10, 1915, Mayo is a picture of health. He seems to suffe few of the problems associated with the elderly — he is mobile, energetic, and in good physical condition. And, aside from behig a little forgetful, Nathaniel Mayo is as strong in mind as he was when he really was young. His attitude on life is simple. "Live right, do right and go to heaven when you die," is what be says be was told all bis life. Mayo spent his early years work ing bis father’s farm. Vriien his fa ther died shortly after World War n, Mayo wtx'ked his own farm. He grew com, tobacco, vegetables and raised hogs and chickens. For his first 70 years, Mayo lived in the same bouse. When it burned in 1985, he moved across Kitt Creek Road to a new home. Both houses were situated on land settled by his grandfather. "When slavery was abolished, my granddaddy came to Morrisville to be on his own," Mayo says, calling up days long past Now the land that Mayo’s grand- f^er Dennis Mayo settled on has grown as have bis descendants. In fact when Mayo steps out of his home on the northern larders of Morrisville, he can look in any direction and see the homes of his children, grandchildren, cousins, nieces and nephews, his children’s cousins and their nieces and nephews and so on. He’ll point to a big tree across and up the road a bit where his grandfather first decided to make his home, and for miles around that point live the children of bis lineage. And Mayo sees them all the time because most are members of Shiloh B^tist Church. Mayo has been a member of that church since he was 9. He has served as associate minis ter for 15 years and been a member of the choir twice that long. He has seen the church grow from a hand ful of members to the current 200. Mayo describes his years in the churci as a growing experience. "When you gel into what Chris tianity really means and after you grow into it, it gels bigger and bet ter," he says, "I’m crazy about it. I go every Sunday — 52 Sundays a year." So it was appropri^ that the church was the setting of Mayo’s 80th birthday celebration Sept. 10 — where Morrisville Mayor Pro- tern Billy Sauls and Mayo’s long time friend the Rev. Robert Pace of the Anglican Church of America presented him with two dis tinguished awards and named that day as "Nathaniel and Ruby Mae Mayo Day." The Long Leaf Pine Award com es directly from the governor’s of fice. It is the top civic recognition given to community leaders often who are older and have done a lot for their community, says Pace. The "Kentucky Colonel" award is a commission awarded by the gov ernor of Kentucky to recognize people for their distinguished ser vice. Pace listed Prince Philip of &igland and President Lyndon B. Johnson as past recipients of that award. "He’s an outstanding individual," Sauls says, "It’s a very dis tinguished award." "They are considered by many of us as role models for their integrity and hard woik, especially for our youngCT generation," Pace says of the Mayos. Both have always given their all to helping members of their community, he says. Pace’s ties with the Mayos go back beyond his lifetime. He says that his great-great-grandfather Thomas Markham gave some land to Dennis Mayo and then pur chased his wife for him; she was still a slave. "Thomas Markham said to Dennis, ‘Here is your wife,’ and said to her, ‘Now you are free,”’ Pace says. Nathaniel and Ruby Mae wwe married in 1936, three years before the second world war began. Though his brother was an army corporal, Mayo says that at the time be had no desire to join the effort "I was new to her and she was new to me," Mayo recalls. So he didn’t go to fight the Ger mans. Now, he says, he wished he had because his brother got to travel all over the world. Nathaniel Mayo has never left the South. In his lifetime he has visited Georgia, Louisiana and Maryland, but when the Luther Green Com munity Center club took a train to Charlotte this month, it was his first visit to the Carolina city. And aside from living in Balti more with his brother for a shon time to work the shipping yards —- the pay there was $1 a day instead of the 500 a day here — Mayo has lived in the same spot his entire life. After farming fw himself for awhile, he wcffked for the Robert- LOST IN THOUGHT — Nathaniel Mayo reflects on his long life. "If we understand enough in life to treat one another right artd love one another, life will be good," he says. son Tobacco Co. in Duiham but eventually left there to work at the A&P in Raleigh. "It takes a lot of money to live," he asserts, especially when there are children to feed. The Mayos have five children — all daughtM's. Mary Lou Branch is the oldest, and there is Carolyn Peterson, Rita Jacklon, Nathanaten Laughinghouse and Esther Hope Dunnington who lives right across the street from her folks. Mayo remembers when Morris ville was just eight to 10 houses. "It wasn’t a big town then — it isn’t a big town now," he quips. Thinking back, Mayo recalls the electrically-operated hosiery fac tory where people were employed. A bell would ring in the morning and the evening to let people know when it was time to go to work and when to go home, he says. "If you listened close, you could hear it ring clear up here," Mayo says. Mayo’s house is a good 3 1/2 to 4 miles frcan town. One of Mayo’s most disturbing memories of days gone by is from a time when be was staying in the house his mother grew up in be cause it was a closer walk to school. He would sleep in the ^tic with his brother and he claims that one night he awoke to hear something walk into the house oo four feet, slowly come up the stairs to the top floor and walk about the beds up there. Mayo never saw what it was — animal or "boogeyman" — be cause be had buried himself under a pile of covers until the thing crept away. But most of the time Mayo was happy and unafraid. "What was nice to me is we were so friendly to each other," he says of all his friends and family, "That was the whole set-up for all of us. "If we understand enough in life to ffeat one another right and love one another, life will be good," he says. "Whoever gave us life, it was a good gift." Teen TalkLine 231-3626 ... when you want to talk to eomeone your own age. Real Estate Bulletin \cna Board Buying a home soon? Whether you plan to purchase your first home, move up to a larger one or buy a new one, what steps can be taken to insure a satisfying, successful home buying experience? The first step might be to evaluate your present situation. Do you currently own a home? If so, will it be necessary to sell before maleng anofoer purchase? Are you renting? How much time is left on ycHir lease? If you already ovm a home, start by asWng an agent to provide a hnailcet analysis” of your homo. It should include a suggested price range, terms, a list of needed improve ments. probably selling time, and a “nef sheet showing the proceeds you may expect to receive when it sells. Once you know what to expect from the sate of your present home, you will be better prepared to make an informed decision about another home. If you are leasing or renting now, foe expiration date of the lease will help you set a timetable for your purchase. Step two, ask the agent for a list of mortgage lenders who perform “pre-qualification" inter/iews. This procedure allows the lender to determine the maximum mortgage for which you qualify. By obtaining fois pre-purchase determi nation of available mortgage loans, you can begin your home search wifo the advance knowledge needed to pur chase the home of your choice. You will also know foe amount of your down payment and other closing costs. Next, make a list of features you would like included in your next home. Write down desir^le locations you would like to consider, an acceptable price range, number of bed rooms and baths, and any other amenities. Be specific. It is unlikely that you will find a home that offers every single feature you desire, however, wifoout a list, it will be more difficult to recognize homes which meet your expectations. Rnally, provide foe information you have gathered to foe agent of you choice, and ask to be shown a selection of homes which match your criteria. By following a logical, step-by-step, purchase agenda, you can enjoy a worry-free home purchase. Whether you plan to buy, sell, or stay put, call me anytime at CENTURY 21 Park West 481-3681 or 319-3745. 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Morrisville and Preston Progress (Morrisville, N.C.)
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Sept. 27, 1995, edition 1
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