By JEAN OUZTS

Climax Correspondent

January 4, 2012, marked a milestone for Mrs. Inez Heard of Climax, as she became 90 years young.

A celebration was held twice in her honor on Sunday, Jan. 8. Nineteen members of her family took her out for Sunday lunch, and then her church, the Climax Baptist Church, family and friends held another celebration on Sunday night in the church fellowship hall. Two cakes were enjoyed by all — one a chocolate Princess sheet cake adorned with tiara and wand. The other was decorated with pink roses.

Mrs. Inez’s children, present for both events, were: Jerry and Jeannie Heard of Climax, Mary Jane Hall of Climax, David and Teresa Heard of Vada, and Cathy and Mark Nelson of Hobe Sound, Fla.

Grandchildren attending were: Chip and Patty Hall, Jeff and Sandy Heard, Laura Hall, Ashley and Daniel White, and great-grandchildren Stevie Hall, Brittney Heard, Kyle Heard, Anna Marie Hall and Abbey Hall.

Through these 90 years, Mrs. Inez said she has witnessed many changes, had seen hard times as well as good times. She is most amazed with all the new technology today. She said pretty soon she might not even know how to open the door to her house!

Speaking of technology, she said one of the funniest things she had heard lately was from a friend with a cell phone. She said the friend told her she had gotten a taxed message on the phone! Mrs. Inez knew she meant text message.

Her children said she might be 90 but she keeps up with current events of today. She is a strong believer of reading her Bible every day, but she also reads novels, newspapers and watches the news on TV.

Her favorite hobby is working in her garden and yards. She loves flowers and always has some type blooming in her flower gardens. She doesn’t allow one pine cone or limb to clutter her beautiful yard. Her children said she is still in charge, the matriarch of the family, and very good at giving orders about what needs to be done in her yard!

For many years, she was the winner of Climax’s Yard of the Month during the summer. Folks in Climax felt it was useless to compete with Mrs. Inez; she always won the most beautiful yard.

Mrs. Inez still keeps her house, and cooks delicious meals in her kitchen; she has rental property that she takes care of, and feels to be very fortunate to be able to function independently with the exception of driving. She has never had a driver’s license, but many friends and family members take her places and she is on the go daily. She never turns down a trip.

She is a faithful member of Climax Baptist Church and loves her Sunday School and Training Union Classes, and she especially loves her pastor, the Rev. Steve Poppell.

Many days, this reporter has sat with her as she reminisced about times gone by and the friendship she shared with my mother. Many times she said, she wished she could call some of those times back again, and then she would say, “No, Jean Ann that wouldn’t be right, we must push on. That is what they would want us to do.”

How right you are Mrs. Inez. “Happy Birthday!” to a special little lady in Climax.