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Centenarian to be: ‘We’re all God’s children’

Marie Singleton recalls what it was like growing up as a black girl in 1920s in Lebanon. The 99 year old will celebrate her hundredth birthday Friday, Oct. 30, 2009.

Apryl Pilolli/Staff Photographer Marie Singleton recalls what it was like growing up as a black girl in 1920s in Lebanon. The 99 year old will celebrate her hundredth birthday Friday, Oct. 30, 2009.

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By Justin McClelland, Staff Writer Updated 7:51 PM Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Marie Singleton sat with her great-granddaughter in January to witness an event few thought possible when she was born 100 years ago — the inauguration of this country’s first black president.

Singleton however, in her typical deadpan style, was unfazed by the momentous occasion.

“We’re all God’s children,” Singleton said. “The way God planned it is the way it’s going to be. We might as well accept it.”

Singleton will turn 100 on Friday, Oct. 30. The Lebanon native, who now lives in Mason, has lived through the pain of racial segregation and intolerance and seen the hope and optimism of civil rights.

“She’s absolutely remarkable,” said Singleton’s daughter, Lois Hatch. “Everyone in the family puts her on a pedestal, not just because of all she’s done, but because of who she is.”

Singleton was born in 1909 to a town and time very much torn by racism. Singleton said that no one would walk with her at her Lebanon High School graduation because she was black so a teacher — Ms. Berry — walked with her instead. She attended Wilberforce University where she received a degree in teaching.

In 1933, she married Charles Singleton, who worked at the bottling company in town, near where Marie lived.

“He used to come out in the afternoon on his break and whistle at me,” Singleton said. “ I would come over and wave.”

They had four children, Charles, William, Steven and Lois, as well as eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Blacks, Singleton said, had difficulty finding work and were not allowed to enter many stores in Lebanon.

“We just didn’t go, because we knew we couldn’t,” Singleton said. “We knew we could go in the back door, but we were proud. ‘You don’t like me, I don’t like you.’”

Singleton wrote a column for the Western Star entitled Marie Writes, that for nearly 30 years kept tabs of local black activities in Lebanon, from births and marriages to community affairs.

Singleton began working at Wright Patterson Air Force Base during World War II. She also formed a local group to pressure local employers to practice fair hiring practices.

“We went from store to store asking why they didn’t hire blacks and they would give us crazy stories,” Singleton said.

Singleton will be honored Tuesday by the Lebanon City Council.

Like many things she has seen, Singleton is not overly impressed at reaching the century mark.

“I don’t want all that hullaballo,” Singleton said. “I lived as God and my daughter took care of me.”

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