Nancy CARTER

1785 - Oct 11, 1910

Inscription:
I am 126 years old
I have kept the faith & yield my soul to God, and go home.

From Crossroads Magazine

WAS CASS COUNTY HOME TO THE OLDEST WOMAN?
By Jamie Jeans

In 1785, when the United States was a mere
nine years old, a woman was born somewhere
on the great continent of Africa. Her name
would eventually become Nancy Carter and if you
happen to be wandering the back roads of Cass
County near the beautiful little town of Linden,
you may happen across her final resting place. In
a tree-filled cemetery known as Old Pleasant Hill
Cemetery, her headstone stands tall and almost
perfectly unblemished as a tribute to this remarkable woman. Indeed, Carter, or as she was affectionately known to family and friends, Grannie, lived a very long life. Her life did not start in the US, however.
In 1802 she was brought to the United States as a
slave and sold to one Absolam Carter Sr. in Greenville, Alabama by C. Ferson, a slave trader. Upon his death, Carter Jr. inherited Grannie and moved to Cass County in 1854 just two years after Linden was established and became the county seat.
This remarkable woman, who was brought to
this country as a slave would live to see the end
of slavery. However, while this is a remarkable
thing, what makes her so remarkable is what is
written on that tall, almost perfect headstone. It
is the dates, carved by a meticulous and steady
hand, that make Grannie such an amazing and
important person. The dates indicate that she
was indeed born in the year 1785, however, she
passed away on October 11, 1910. This puts her at
the astonishing age of 125. The inscription below
the dates reads, “I am 126 years old I have kept the
faith & yield my soul to God and go home."
While one cannot be absolutely sure of Grannie’s
year of birth, it is known that she was brought here
from Africa in the year 1802 as a teenager. Though
her age at that time cannot be proven, it is still an astounding 108 years from the moment she set
foot here to the time of her passing. Even if she
was only merely a 13-year-old girl at the time, that
would put her at 121 years old.Imagine for a moment, the things she must have seen, the life she must have lived. Even as a free person, life in rural Texas during her time would have been difficult. Racism was prevalent throughout the southern states and with little to no education, many former slaves were forced to rent land from former slave owners. Although they were given the legal right to marry, own property, and even sue in court, it was illegal for them to serve on juries or even testify against a white person. They were also required to sign labor contracts with white landowners if they were sharecroppers. Refusal to do so meant that they could be arrestedand hired out for work.
Grannie would have also seen the positives
of this time. African American communities of
the time focused on faith, family, and education.
She was alive when the first black colleges were
founded. She was alive when Hiram Revels became the first African American to be elected to the Senate in 1870. Texas was only ten years old when she
came with her youngest daughter, Julia Ann.
Indeed, Nancy “Grannie” Carter lived a long life
full of fear and uncertainty and yet, one also of
hope, faith, family, and love. In her obituary, it is stated that she had “numbers of great-great-grandchildren” by Julie Ann. No doubt that even during the worst of times, she was surrounded by her
loved ones, telling stories of a life before, sharing wisdom, and walking in faith… A faith so profound and deep that it filled her life for purportedly 125 years.
Her final resting place is one of beauty. Down
a quiet single lane back road that dead-ends at a
turnaround. One may not even realize it is a cemetery at first unless they happen to notice the few standing headstones. Most graves here are marked
with hand-carved stones. Grannie’s stone is near
a large beautiful Oak tree, its branches growing
out wide, providing shade and a sense of comfort
in a place of sadness. The stillness that surrounds
the old cemetery is one of peace and serenity and
when the sun is shining high overhead and a gentle
breeze is blowing through the trees, one can almost feel the faith, love, and wisdom that Grannie
radiated during her many years on this Earth.

(Century Club)
(SUPER-CENTENARIAN)

Contributed on 1/31/18 by gr2rumble
Email This Contributor

Suggest a Correction

Record #: 151266

Don't Follow