Local resident becomes centenarian
She has beaten cancer twice and lived to see 18 U.S. presidents, just as many recessions and even a World War.
Graham County resident Frances Smith Whitehead celebrated her 100th birthday Tuesday. Residing at Graham Healthcare & Rehabilitation, her family was unable to see her in person on her historical day, but arrangements were made to make sure Whitehead could celebrate electronically with her loved ones, as well as enjoy a cake.
So what’s her secret to longevity? It can be found right here at home.
“I walked the mountain everyday,” Whitehead said.
Busy beginnings
Though not originally a Graham County resident, Frances grew up not too far from her home. Born to Norma and A.B. Smith on April 21, 1920, in Blount County, Tenn., Frances had an active childhood at Maryville (Tenn.) High School.
She learned to play the violin – performing in the school’s orchestra – and was also a member of the history club. Upon her graduation in 1938, she attended Virginia Intermont College, which was in Bristol, Va., until closing in 2014.
Settling down
Returning to her hometown after college, Frances married James M. Whitehead in 1942. She soon got a job at Alcoa Aluminum during World War II – helping supply material for aircraft parts – and was a Sunday school teacher at Maryville First Baptist Church.
Together, Frances and James had three sons: Steve (who lives in Harriman, Tenn.), Norman (who passed away in 2015) and Robert (who lives in Greenfield, Ind.). From her sons are six grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Frances also has two siblings: Marjorie Rawlings (96, living in Guthrie, Ky.) and Jeff Smith (92, living in Maryville).
Move to Graham
James sadly passed away in 1974. Frances decided to relocate to Graham County, a place she visited with her parents when the family would camp on Cheoah Point at Lake Santeetlah.
The Smiths/Whiteheads brought a small house to the campground, built a wood floor with a frame that would support an overhead Army surplus tent, then equipped Army cots and two feather beds for more lodging.
During the late 1950s and early 1960s, the swimming hole that is at Cheoah Beach today was not built yet, but the boat dock existed. Frances recalled a man named Homer ran the dock.
An avid water skier, Frances has always enjoyed life on the water. She was just on a pontoon boat enjoying Lake Santeetlah last summer.
After settling in Graham County, Frances would work at both Tapoco Lodge and Fontana Village Resort over the span of the 1970s and 1980s. Later in life, Frances became a caretaker for elderly patients.
She made her home on Thunderbird Mountain from 1974 until she moved into Graham Health & Rehabilitation in 2013.