Celebrating a century

Celebrating a century

By MARY BAILEY The Reporter

Back when eggs were 47 cents, and a brand-new car was only $265 Calvin Duke made his appearance into the world.

Duke was born in Horton on December 1, 1924, and was the youngest son of Albert and Lena Duke.

On Sunday afternoon at the Sardis Senior and Community Center there was standing room only as family and friends gathered to celebrate Duke’s 100th birthday.

Wearing his cowboy hat, boots and vest, Duke shook hands and relived old memories of days gone by with those at his party. Including his time in the military, something he is very proud of.

In 1942 at the tender age of 17, Duke went to work at the Alabama Dry Docks in Mobile as a welder.

Over the next several years, Duke was everywhere you could imagine.

He joined the U.S. Merchant Marines as a civilian sailor serving as the ship’s cook for five months in Africa.

The Merchant Marines were then called into the U.S. Military Service to help with the transport of military personnel and supplies by ship to wartime locations.

Duke then served as the ship’s chief cook with a U.S. Army Transport Unit in the West Pacific for five months.

The last service assignment for Duke was to cook aboard the U.S. Coast Guard Hospital Ship where he spent 13 ½ months, crossing the equator 14 times from battles in the Philippines to hospitals in New Guinea.

Duke was officially and honorably discharged from the U.S. Merchant Marines, the U.S. Army and the U.S. Coast Guard in 1946.

Even though he was away for extended periods of time to far off lands, he sent money home to purchase a small farm on Sand Mountain where his mother and father would live until they passed.

After life in the military, Duke worked at Goodyear in Gadsden for almost 40 years to provide for his family and his church.

In 1953, Duke moved to the Whitesboro Community where he built a home for his wife and three daughters. Eventually, his family would grow into five daughters and a son.

Duke was not only proud of his family but proud of his church family.

He joined Whitesboro Baptist Church when he was 14 years old and was saved as a teenager at a revival meeting. He has also been a member of Beth Haven Church and later joined Bethlehem Baptist Church where he is still an active member today.

Duke has been a Sunday School Teacher, Song Director and has lent his skills at every opportunity.

“Dad has a passion for God and his word,” said one of his daughters, Anne Farrell. “He has dedicated his life to study God’s word and witness to others. He is a humble man before the Lord and knowing that he has fallen short many times in his life. He is thankful for God’s grace and mercy in all things. Dad would like everyone to know how much he loves his church family and this community. He thanks God through Jesus Christ for his life, mercy and all his blessings.”

Another daughter, Sandy Freeman, echoed this about her father.

“My dad is a good man. He calls his children his pride and joy,” she said. “We are so grateful for everyone here today. Daddy has always been open to help his family when they needed it. He has always been one to help the community when they needed it. Overall, he is a good man who loves everybody and wants to help everybody he can. My dad is the backbone of our family.”

Duke, gave these lasting words on how he lived to see an entire century.

“By the Grace of God and nothing else. That and love of family and medication.”

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