PEOPLE: County’s oldest woman turns 105

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August 20, 2009

PARTY AND PROCLAMATIONS: Leetah Brown will celebrate with family and friends on Saturday at Odd Fellows.

By Bill Wolcott <a href="mailto:bill.wolcott@lockportjournal.com">E-mail Bill</a> The Lockport Union-Sun %26 Journal Thu Aug 20, 2009, 03:07 AM EDT

The oldest woman in Niagara County turns 105 today.

Leetah Brown will celebrate the anniversary of her birth with a party Saturday at the garden of the Odd Fellows and Rebekah Nursing and Rehabilitation facility on Old Niagara Road.

Born Leetah Smith, Brown has been married twice. Her second husband, Richard Brown, died in 1977.

Leetah worked in a munitions factory during World War II and has lived in Greenville, S.C. She lived in Lockport and Barker for several years and in 1997 moved into the Odd Fellows home. In 2004, she was awarded her high school diploma when she turned 100.

Perhaps 100 people will be on hand Saturday afternoon for the party, according to great-niece Debbie Dearborn. Leetah has no children, but several nieces and nephews. Carol Eggers came from South Carolina on Tuesday to visit her great-aunt.

Leetah likes to keep busy and has helped the staff with some chores.

Saturday has been proclaimed Leetah Brown Day by Niagara County and the Village of Barker. Dearborn is also expecting to receive proclamations from President Barack Obama and Gov. David Paterson. Leetah is proud of the proclamations she received from presidents George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush.

Members of the Barker Fire Co., who looked after her many years, and Odd Fellows staff have been invited to the party.

Contact reporter Bill Wolcott at 439-9222, ext. 6246.

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PEOPLE: County’s oldest woman turns 105

<b>PARTY AND PROCLAMATIONS: </b><i>Leetah Brown will celebrate with family and friends on Saturday at Odd Fellows.</i>

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