Porterville woman celebrates birthday with five generations of her family December 2008

A Porterville woman celebrating her 100th birthday saw five generations of her family come together Nov. 22 to honor her with a special birthday party at Dennys Restaurant.

Arriving in style — wearing a bright pink jacket, matching-colored hat and a furry stole — Mildred Layfield hugged family members and shed a few tears as she smiled, laughed and visited with everyone.

“There are so many people. Some of them I had not seen in a long time and some I don’t even know who they are. But that’s OK, they didn’t know who I am either,” Layfield said. “But this is fabulous. Magnificent. All these people and all these hugs and kisses. I love this.”

In attendance was her youngest brother, Leo Pitts, 87, of Mission Viejo, and his three sons, Bob, Jeff and Dennis Pitts, all from Southern California.

“She looks absolutely wonderful,” Bob Pitts said. “I hadn’t seen her in many years but she looks great. All of her family is that way. Her sister is 96. Another uncle was 88.”

The family is definitely blessed with great genes, he said. Her father lived to be 98.

“This family has a lot of longevity,” Kari Pitts, wife of Jeff Pitts, said. “I think a lot of it has to do with their love for the outdoors — and for life.”

Layfield said she had her own secret for longevity.

“I never think of myself. I’m always living for others — always helping others,” she said. “I guess you could say I have a passion for life.”

But passion for life may be an understatement.

“She still fiddles and sings and does all sorts of things,” Dennis Pitts said.

That same passion is seen daily by those she lives with at Porterville Convalescent Home, 1100 W. Morton Ave. — the place she has called home since 1996.

Layfield is often seen by the front exit and is known as the unofficial greeter — greeting everyone who comes through the doors, hospital administrator Michelle Lawrence said.

“She is a beautiful person,” Vivian Odom, 77, who resides across the hall from Layfield, said. “[Friday] we had our monthly birthday celebration here. And that good ol’ gal got up out of her wheelchair and danced with her granddaughter. She is an amazing woman.

"I’m young compared to her but she’s very active for her age.”
Odom said the two play Bingo together almost every day and they sit and visit every evening in the hall.

“She can tell some great stories. I love her stories because I can identify with her,” Odom said. “She loves to talk politics, too. She likes talking about President [Herbert] Hoover.”

Layfield was born before running water, television and the invention of penicillin.

“We lived on a farm in a log cabin but I remember having a telephone on the wall,” she said.
Perhaps because her mother was a midwife, she said.

“She was always delivering babies,” Layfield said. “Later on, I remember moving up on a hill into a bigger house.”
Layfield’s only child, Sharon Harrington of Porterville, said she has heard many of the stories.

“She grew up on a farm. They had cattle. She’s always talking about helping out by milking the cows and canning fruit,” Harrington said. “She moved to California when she was 13.”

Eventually, Layfield moved to California Hot Springs where she helped run the bath house. She moved to Porterville 60 years ago.

“I’ve had a good life,” Layfield said. “I was taught that I should be involved in anything that comes around. I have been blessed.”

People around her say they are the ones blessed by Layfield’s compassion, love and devotion to others.

“She is the life of the party here,” Nancy Smart, director of nurses said. “She’s outgoing, enthusiastic, very friendly.

"She is a pleasure to have around and is a friend to everyone. She’s definitely a main part of this facility. I guess you can say she is ‘Miss Porterville Convalescent.’”

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