My mother, Margaret Elizabeth Derreberry Jones, was born January 11, 1871 in a cabin near Marble, North Carolina. The cabin was still in use until a few years ago. She had six sisters and four brothers. Three of her sisters lived to be over 95 years of age. Mother lived to be 100 years and 4 months old. She gave birth to 11 children, two died at an early age, but the next one to pass away was 67 years old and the remainder are now all over 67. Six are still alive this date. She was a hard worker and never complained. She believed that a person should arise early and go to bed early. She cooked three meals a day. When cooking a meal she prepared more than was necessary in case someone was to stop in unexpectedly she would be able to feed them and she tried to make them feel welcome. She was known far and wide for her reputation baking a coconut cake, baking a ham and many more things. She dearly loved all her children, grand-children and great-grand-children, and in turn she was loved by all them. She never failed to answer any letter that she received up to a few years before she passed away. She attended school for about 5 months all total, but she read everything that she could set her hands on. She was a very compassionate person. She loved her neighbors and she delighted in helping them. She visited the sick and would sit with them all night if it was necessary. When she gave us kids an order to do a job she expected it be done and done right. When we had company for dinner or any meal we were expected to go to the table orderly and to sit erect and not talk unless we were spoken to. We were required to use the best of manners and if we didn't and she looked at us over her glasses we knew what to expect after the visitor left. She was left a widow at an early age, but managed to survive and raise us kids. She passed away on May 21, 1971.