Stella Hollis of Trumann celebrated her 102nd birthday last Thursday. Hollis has lived in Trumann since she moved here with her parents in 1921. Mayor Sheila Walters presented her with a certificate proclaiming her one of Trumann's outstanding citizens. Also attending the celebrated were her daughter-in-law Wanda Hollis of Jonesboro and her grandson, Mark Hollis of Louisiana. (Democrat photo/Ruth Ann Estes) [Click to enlarge]

Hollis has lived in Trumann for 87 of her 102 years having moved to Trumann in 1921 with her parents John and Maudie Archie. Her father worked for Poinsett Lumber and Manufacturing Company.

"My daddy had a brother who lived here," Hollis said in partial explanation of why the family had moved.

Born in Aly, Ark., Hollis grew up with four siblings four others having died at early ages.

At 16, a little over a year after moving to Trumann, she married 20 year old Henry Melvin Hollis on June 16, 1923. She remembered that they were married near Lunsford by a Reverend Taylor (she's forgotten his first name).

The family lived and farmed 80 acres at the edge of town.

"We raised cotton and soybeans," she said. "And children."

The couple had 13 children, seven boys and six girls five of whom Hollis has outlived.. The other kids are spread out across the country.

"They are all over the United States," says her grandson, Mark Hollis, 44, of Louisiana, who traveled to Trumann last week to celebrate his grandmother's birthday.

Daughters Georgia Bea, Jaunda, Francis and Andrea are deceased, as is son, Charles. Daughter Catherine, 76, lives in Trumann, Norma, 74, in Michigan, Max, 73, in Louisiana as does Gary, 61, Spencer, 69, in Georgia while both John, 67, and Roy, 65, live in Illinois, and Thomas, 62, in Indiana.

Hollis also has 25 grandchildren and 54 great-grandchildren.

Melvin died in 1977 after 54 years of marriage.

Hollis said she worked along side her husband on the farm for their entire marriage.

"I could pick over 300 pounds of cotton every day," she said proudly. "I took my kids to the fields. We worked sunup to sundown. I taught them to work and I taught them to be good."

Her kids attended Freer Church while they were growing up and today Hollis is a member of Elm Grove Baptist Church, north of Trumann.

One of her visitors, daughter-in-law, Wanda Hollis, of Jonesboro, was still recovering from the death of her husband, Charles Coolidge Hollis, a rice farmer, who died last year at age 79.

"He was named after Calvin Coolidge," Hollis said who expects visits from others in her family this week..

Hollis remains in good health, is still able to get around with her walker and has two home health aides who help her each day. One of her aides made and decorated a large birthday cake she was sharing with visitors.

"I enjoy each day," she said. She is alert and ready with a quip while answering questions.

Mayor Sheila Walters presented Hollis with a special proclamation from the city in honor of her birthday naming her an outstanding citizen of the City of Trumann.

"I voted for her,"Hollis said. "It was the first time I ever voted, but, I've voted a couple of times since then."

Finally, she said she had no secret to her longevity, having done nothing special to live for more than a century. She did say, however, that what is really important is the love of her family.

"I had a good family," she concluded. "And I wanted to be with them…so I've tried to stay around."