DUNBAR, W.Va. — Savolia Joyce says while she’s hoping to make it to her 100th birthday next year, she believes God wants her to remain active in the community for much longer.
“I just don’t think in terms of age. I think in terms of what is the next thing God has for me to do. I still think that he has lots for me to do. I don’t know what it is yet,” Joyce said on her 99th birthday Thursday.
Joyce was born on May 4, 1918.
Members of the William J. Raglin Community Education Center in Dunbar hosted a birthday lunch for Joyce, followed by cake and ice cream. She is a member of the senior program there.
Joyce was born in Matoaka, moved to Norton, Va., then returned to West Virginia. She has lived in Dunbar since 2002, but spent most of her life in Williamson with her husband where she often saw the negative effects of racial segregation and discrimination. For that reason, she decided to write a book called “The Journey on Liberty Street.”
“That has consumed a lot of my time and my energy because there are things that I want to leave that’s history for my children, the people in my family, as well as my church family in Williamson, West Virginia,” she said.
During an interview with reporters, Joyce joked that she doesn’t have any health problems for her age. Those who know her well told MetroNews she still drives a car at 99 years old.
“So far he (doctor) pats me on the shoulder and he says ‘see you in six months’, so I guess I’m doing okay physically,” she said.
Joyce said her goal in life is “to always be involved and to help people that are less fortunate” than her.