The Starr's Mill Community recently celebrated the 96th birthday of Winnie Mask Bowers with an old-fashioned outdoor gathering and telling of family history.

Born June 8, 1903 to Robert Luther and Tinie Padgett Mask, she has lived all her life in the Glen Grove/Starr's Mill community.

Her mother died at a young age and her father married Sallie Chapman Mask, who served as mother, grandmother and great grandmother to the family until the age of 103.

Miss Winnie taught at the Glen Grove School in the early 1920s, where she met Joseph Edward Bowers, who was serving on the county board of education. They married in December 1922, and in 1974 he died, just two years after their 50th wedding anniversary.Bowers was one of only three Fayette County commissioners who had served three consecutive terms.

She is the oldest of only three teachers at Glen Grove School still living.

Active in the Glen Grove Baptist Church, now New Hope Baptist Church south campus, she taught Sunday School for over 50 years, was active in the Women's Missionary Union there and directed many of the popular Christmas pageants for many years.

Her children include Joe and Evie Bowers — he served as Fayetteville postmaster for 23 years from 1962 to 1985; Eugene and Adrian Bowers — he served as Fayette County school superintendant from 1964 to 1972, and Louise Bowers Callahan.

Grandchildren coming to the celebration from out of town included Ann Bowers and Jim Short, and their children, Marie and Jason Short, from Gastonia, N.C. and the Rev. Tim and Leigh Ann Bowers, and their daughter, Emily Bowers, from Clinton, S.C.

Other grandchildren include Robin St. John, Andy Bowers, Eulyce Daniel, Tim Bowers, Maria Newsome and Eddie Callahan, all of Georgia.

Miss Winnie commented that the most dramatic changes she has witnessed are in the areas of travel within the county, communication, education, churches and living conditions in general.