Higgins celebrates 100th birthday

RUSSELLVILLE — Eunice Greenhill Higgins celebrated her 100th birthday April 26 with a gathering of more than 70 relatives, friends and others at the Frankfort Community Center.

Higgins, a Franklin County native and daughter of Artis and Ludie Greenhill, was born April 26, 1926. She lives in the Russellville area near Cedar Creek.

Higgins had 10 children, including seven who are still living, and has 27 great-grandchildren.

Relatives traveled from several states, including Michigan, to attend the gathering.

Higgins reads her Bible daily and watches televised church services. She also continues living at home with help from family members.

Higgins spent her life as a homemaker and devoted much of her time to quilting, canning, and caring for children and grandchildren.

She and her husband, Alvin Higgins of Waterloo, were married 56 years. The couple met while Higgins worked at Futral’s Restaurant in Sheffield, and Alvin Higgins drove a taxi through the area.

Eunice Greenhill when she was 19 years old.

Higgins is the oldest of 16 children. She attended a one-room school in Hodges as a child. Her daughter, Wanda Higgins Schuster, said Higgins especially remembers her teacher, Miss Overton.

“I’d rather go to that school than any school I ever went to,” Higgins said.

Asked what is important in life, Higgins said, “One husband, one faith and one baptism.”