Mildred Broadwater (left), who was born in 1918 and celebrated a birthday recently, lives in Virginia and still communicates regularly with her “little brother,” George Gaines, who will be 100 years old at the end of next week. To the right is the late Tootsie Gaines, who married George before he departed for North Africa during World War II. Gaines said both his big sister and wife spoiled him for decades.
George Gaines, who has been feted arguably more for almost being 100 years old than any other human being in history, said recently that he has told his family he wants a nice, quiet celebration when he hits the century mark.
“I certainly don’t need any more cake,” he says, wincing and shaking his head at the thought of taking one more bite of birthday cake.
After being honored by the Samuel Elbert Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution and the Rotary Club of Elberton (an organization he has belonged to for 60 years) weeks before his actual centennial mark, he told his family that he just wants to spend a nice, quiet evening at home.
Family has always been important to George Gaines. Mother Verlie Mae Gaines raised a family on Edwards Street after her husband, George, died when George Jr. was three years old.
And George says he had the benefit of growing up in a household with his older sister, Mildred Matthews Gaines Broadwater.
“She looked after me, especially when I got to high school,” said Gaines, who still communicates by phone with his sister Mildred, who lives in Virginia. She recently celebrated her 101st birthday.
Gaines’ daughter, Elsa Ann Meyer, said Mildred was as deeply involved in winning World War II as her father.
“She went to a movie, and in one of the trailers they talked about the need for nurses for our soldiers fighting overseas,” said Elsa Ann. “So she volunteered.”
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