Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2005 | ||
Bad Links? | New Orleans Katrina refugee to celebrate 100th birthday in PTCBy MICHAEL BOYLAN The New Orleans that Sarah Flippen, 99, grew up in has been changed in many ways since being hit by Hurricane Katrina, but the New Orleans that she loved is still intact, for the things that she loved the most are her family and the thousands of memories that they have created while residing in the city. Flippen is currently living with family members in Peachtree City. Plans for a birthday party and family reunion in New Orleans, originally scheduled for her birthday Oct. 13, obviously had to be moved due to the damage from the storm. She plans on returning to her home in Harvey, La., as soon as possible, though. Ive lived in New Orleans my entire life, said Flippen. Though Ive gone to different places in my time, to me it was my world. Flippen lived in many different parts of New Orleans in her lifetime, including areas such as the French Quarter and Mid City. Her daughter-in-law Carmen, a Peachtree City resident, added that Flippen had a number of nice houses in the city, including one off Esplanade Avenue. Her home in Harvey, which she lived in with her daughter, apparently didnt sustain any water damage but may have been damaged by the wind. She left her home two days before Katrina hit with her son and his wife and spent some time in Jackson, Miss. before coming to Fayette County. Flippens youngest daughter, Yvonne, ended up having to leave her home and go to a shelter for a few days but she is safe, as is everyone in her family, and she is sure that all of them will be reunited soon. Flippen was the youngest of seven children. She was delivered by Dr. Sarah Tua Mayo, for whom a womens hospital in New Orleans is now named. Dr. Mayo told Flippens mother to name the baby after her and to never give her child coffee. Flippens mother followed the doctors advice and Flippen has never tasted coffee, although many in her family swear that she makes the best cup of strong French coffee they have ever tasted. She played piano and wanted to be a ballerina while growing up. Her late husband, Waller, was also a great dancer and the two shared many nights listening to music and dancing. The two had five children together and once they came along, they would spend most of their time playing games, enjoying the city park and eating some of Flippens famous meals, which included the standard red beans and rice, that any good cook from New Orleans can make, to her specialty, oyster soup. Some might think that those things are dull, said Flippen. But I didnt care; I had fun in my own way. Among Flippens favorite haunts in New Orleans are The Holy Rosary Church, her parish church on Esplanade Avenue, and the Finish Line, a place that offers video poker and nickel machines. Flippen also enjoyed attending Mardi Gras celebrations every year. When she was younger her sister was a seamstress who made costumes out of beautiful materials every year for carnival. With the left-over material she would make a costume each year for her sister, and Flippen would attend the celebration in costumes of velvet and silk, looking very pretty. Flippen also holds special memories of the Christmas celebrations that would bring together the entire family under one roof. This would be no small feat today as Flippens family now features 28 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren, and 10 great-great-grandchildren, and more on the way. At Christmas the presents would be piled high as the family would gather around the baby grand piano in the living room. The piano was one of Flippens first purchases after obtaining a job with the Sanger Amusement Company, which was where she met her husband. I was so proud of the piano, said Flippen, who learned to play from a young age and recalled the details of a special recital. Her piece included a section that represented a storm. Unbeknownst to her, her teacher added special effects, and she was not thrown off by these additions. New Orleans has undergone many changes during Flippens life. The population has exploded, and there are more apartment buildings and fewer of the grand homes that Flippen remembers. Though she loves Peachtree City, and has found her neighbors to be sweet and helpful, she is anxious to return to her hometown, the place where she built her life, and created the countless memories that keep her smiling today. |
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Copyright 2005-Fayette Publishing, Inc. |