In her almost 101 years, Anna Cobb, native of Winston-Salem, NC and resident of Brighton Gardens, an assisted living facility in her hometown, has seen many things in life and has many accomplishments; but, in the past two years, Anna has taken up drawing portraits with a gift from above she didn’t know she had.
In All Things, Have Joy and Give Thanks
In 1923, Anna Cobb came into this world, becoming one of 11 children, six girls and five boys, in her family. Her father was a hard worker with many mouths to feed, and her mother stayed at home, raising the children and tending to the house. Although things were tough, Anna looks back with joy at being brought up in a home full of love.
“My parents met on a train when my mother offered my father a drink of water. I believe it was love at first sight for both of them; they made a beautiful couple and loved each other until death. I am very blessed to have had such a wonderful, loving family; many aunts and uncles were in the area, too, as I grew up. My mother was all that a mother should be – a great wife, mother and cook, and she made the house a home; she was an inspiration to me. My mother is gone, but she will never be forgotten. I’m the last one left of my family, but I still have memories of my childhood and my family. My Aunt Minnie was a great sister to my dad and, when she got sick and had to have a colostomy, I took care of her for a good while in my home until her passing. It was a blessing to care for such a wonderful woman,” said Anna.
Part of Anna’s memories include her job working as a secretary at The Winston-Salem Journal, then moving with her family to Washington, DC to work in the government as a secretary. Eventually, Anna would move back to Winston-Salem, marry and have her two sons.
“No matter what came my way, I tried to take everything as a gift and make the best of it; I’m a bit mischievous, and I like a little excitement. I have lived my entire life with a sense of humor and joy; I take whatever I have been given and go with a smile on my face. I have two sons who live in Atlanta that I see when they come to visit. I truly love everything I have ever done, and I wouldn’t change anything about my life,” Anna commented.
A New Chapter Brings Many Blessings
Just two years ago, Anna’s house became a little bit more than she could handle, so she moved into Brighton Gardens and, again, approached this new chapter with the same outlook of being thankful for every blessing and staying active, sharing her smile wherever she goes.
“I have made friends in the past two years and spend time with them doing activities like exercising and trying to make everyone smile a little bit. Sometimes I see people with their smiles turned down, and I just want to make them smile. No matter what age you are, there are blessings and something to smile about every day you are alive. Recently, I have started drawing sketch portraits of people here at Brighton Gardens, and although I don’t know how good they are, they do make people smile, and if I can do that, I’m happy. My drawings also bring me joy; they’re a gift to me from above. I like all the details on faces, like eyes, how the hair is parted, if they wear glasses, etc.; each thing I see makes them special, and I try to share that in each portrait. For however long I am here on this earth, I will continue to be thankful for all my blessings.” Anna stated.
We should all be as blessed as Anna; not necessarily to live to be 101, but to see each day as one to make someone smile, see the best in others and know there’s always something to be grateful for. As Anna said, “When you know where your blessings come from, you can only be thankful every day. Everything that has been in my life is from God, and I am so very thankful for the road He has had me travel. I wouldn’t change a thing.”
