By Lanell Downs Smith

The Crenshaw County community came together Thursday to celebrate a longtime library volunteer and honor  her 102nd birthday.

The Luverne Public Library hosted a party Aug. 2 to celebrate Lee Haugh, who marked her 102nd birthday. A transplant from Georgia, Haugh impacted her community for many years as a library volunteer and was celebrated by community members who recalled how she had touched their lives.

Library Director Kathryn Tomlin said Haugh is a member of Luverne First United Methodist Church, where the congregation celebrated her 100th birthday with a large gathering.

“The church celebrated her 100th birthday, then we had a simple gathering here at the library,” Tomlin said. “For years we would get together and [treat her] with chocolate pie. That year, we had something simple and last year we had a [party at the library.]”

Haugh and her late husband Fritz moved from the Atlanta area to Luverne 65 years ago and several community members recall hearing the stories of her unique life experiences. 

“I’ve known her for 30-something years,” said neighbor Debbie Smith. “They lived in Atlanta and bought the house next door to where my husband Larry and I live [in Luverne.] She’s very independent and has lived an interesting life. She has lived all over and has many interesting stories about her time in New York City, Asheville North Carolina and Georgia.”

Haugh was treated to chocolate pie, cupcakes, punch and other refreshments while guests circulated through the party. Many discussed their memories of time spent with Haugh and the ways she impacted her community.

Wanda Love said her mother Francis Smith was good friends with Haugh until her death last year. The two friends celebrated birthdays nine months apart and Smith passed away just 10 days short of her 102nd birthday.

“Mother died in October and they were really good friends,” Love said. “Miss Lee took over teaching senior exercise classes that my mother attended. She would pick my mother up because Mother was blind and had macular degeneration. Last year at [Haugh’s] party they took a picture together. Mother was 10 days short of 102 when she died.

“Miss Lee and my mother were friends for probably 30 years, so I’ve known her a long time. They became closer through the years. They sat on the same pew at church and did senior exercise together and attended Sunday School class together.”

Haugh said she had recently been feeling under the weather, but was better in time for the party. 

“I’ve lived [in Luverne] a long time,” Haugh said. “I moved away for a while but moved back, so it’s been a long time. I volunteered at the library for 21 years.”