My Sparta News
May 14, 2010

Nyleptha Matilda Bryant Shell Roberts

Nyleptha Matilda Bryant Shell Roberts, 112, oldest person in Tennessee, ninth oldest in the United States, and 20th oldest in the world, died peacefully, but unexpectedly, in her sleep of natural causes just after midnight on May 5, 2010.

She was born in the Bon Air community on March 12, 1898, to John and Mollie Bryant.

She was nine years old when she first saw a car, in 1907. During her long life, she lived in Kentucky and Chicago, Ill., worked in a grocery and a clothing store, and managed a laundry service. However, most of her work was as a homemaker for her family.

For most of the latter part of her life, see lived by herself in her home in Bon Air until age 107 when she became a resident of Life Care Center of Sparta. She remained active making her well known soap fish handicrafts up until her death.

She was a member of the Bon Air Methodist Church.

Mrs. Roberts was preceded in death by her first husband Aaron Shell; two sons Johnny Shell and Columbus (Leon) Shell; second husband, Hubert Roberts; grandsons, Stephen Collins, Johnny Shell Jr.; brothers Earl, Carl, William (Jordon), and Merlin; half-brother, Oliver; sisters Mary, Eula (Roberta), Lucille and Ruby; and close friend, Nova Ramsey.

She is survived by her daughter Juanita and son-in-law Gene Harris, of Fairview, Mo.; brothers and sisters-in-law, Hubert and Martha Mae Bryant of Sparta, Paul and Lois Bryant of Tallahassee, Fla., Johnny and Gladys (Willene) Bryant of Anderson, Ind.; daughter-in-law, Ingeburg Shell and grandson Dr. Michael Shell of Augusta, Ga.; granddaughter and grandson-in-law, Janet and Tim O'Callaghan, of Schaumburg, Ill.; granddaughter-in-law Anita and husband Jack Cline of Schaumburg; great-granddaughters Tracy and Heather Collins

of Chicago and Schaumburg, respectively; nieces, Carolyn and husband Rodger McCann, of Sparta, Connie and husband Charles Wood, of Walling, Wilma Cope, of Sparta, Nina (Geraldine) and husband Gerald Sheets, of Anderson, Joyce and husband James Land of Markelville, Ind., Margaret and husband Elbert (Gene) Sparkman, of McMinnville, Betty Lawrence and husband Jim Hunley, of Murfreesboro, Donna Thomas of Woodbury, Brenda Martin and husband Dennis Waggoner, of McMinnville; nephews, John (Mike) Bryant and wife Bonnie, of Anderson, John Fuqua, of McMinnville, Billy Fuqua and wife Carol, of Rock Island, Steve Fuqua and wife Donna, of Woodbury, Bobbie Bryant and wife Evelyne, of Sparta, Stephen Bryant and wife Maureen, of Greenville, N.C.,

Paul (Greg) Bryant and wife Mary, of Tallahassee; grandnieces, Jamie Wood, of Sparta, Amy and husband Martin Jordan Jr., of Sparta, Melody and husband Keith Edmonds, of Sparta, Melissa and husband William Hunsicker, of Nashville; grandnephews Jeffrey (Todd) Steward and wife Melissa, of Elizabeth City,

N.C., Fred Nordstrom Jr. and wife Barbara, of Essie, Ky.,

Jeff Bryant and wife Waylena, of Champaign-Urbana, Ill.;second cousins once removed, Wanda Mahoney, of Mt. Juliet, Bonnie and husband Jerry Rogers, of Quebeck, Curtis Detharidge and wife Wati, of Manchester, Glenda and husband Larry Robinson of Palm Harbor, Fla., Emogene and husband David Rute, of Palmerton, Penn.; special best friend, Estelle Lewis, of Cookeville, Judy Shirley, of Sparta, Dr. Abhay Kemkar M.D., and wife Nanda, Dr. Bronn Raynen M.D.; nurse, Vicki Sims, activities director, Debbie Guy, Life Care corporate president Beecher Hunter, and others of the supportive staff of Life Care Center of Sparta; as well as others of her many friends and relatives.

Funeral services will be 1 p.m., May 15, 2010, at Thurman Funeral Home, with burial in Old Bon Air Cemetery. Bro. Rodger McCann and Bro. Freddie Copeland will officiate. There will be a private viewing reception for family and close friends starting at 11 a.m., with public viewing starting at noon.

Thurman Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.


Wikipedia

Nyleptha Bryant was born in White County, Tennessee in 1898. She was the oldest daughter of John Douglas Bryant, Sr. (1871–1932) and Molly Victoria Whitaker (1879–1957), and was their second child. They had 12 in all, and lived in Bon Air, Tennessee.

Nyleptha, who was named after the good queen in Henry Rider Haggard's adventure novels, loved to tell jokes and ice skate during her early years. She attended school in a small, country school house, and remembers seeing her first automobile in 1907, when she was 9 years old. At the age of 10, her mother taught her to sew, and she would make patterns and sew many of her own clothes for many years. In 1912, her father bought her an organ for $79, and she would learn to play by ear.

Growing up, Nyleptha's personality attracted the attention of many boys, but Aaron Shell stood out. On September 22, 1922, she married Shell, who was born on March 1, 1893 in Old Town, Tennessee. Their first child, Columbus Leon, was born the next year. Eventually, they moved to Stone, Kentucky, where Shell became the manager of a coal mine. As the Kentucky coal industry prospered, so did their family, adding Johnny Alvin and Juanita over the next few years. During that time, Nyleptha managed a grocery store in the town, and she purchased their first car, not telling Shell until she arrived home driving it that night. Shell died at age 62 on September 18, 1955.

In 1958, Nyleptha moved to Chicago, Illinois to start over. She worked at a clothing store, and also a manager of a laundry service. In 1964, her son Johnny became ill, and she returned to Tennessee, building a home in Sparta. In 1978, when Nyleptha was 80, she married Hubert H. Roberts, who was born on January 1, 1900. The two travelled all over the country, visiting 26 different states. Their family continued to expand and Nyleptha became the grandmother to three grandsons, Johnny Jr., Steve, and Michael, one granddaughter, Janet, and two great-granddaughters, Tracy and Heather.

After only 8 years together, Hubert died in White County, Tennessee at age 86, on December 20, 1986. He was buried in Mt. Pisgah Cemetery, White County, Tennessee.

Nyleptha continued to live in her own home until she was 107 years old. At that time, she moved to Life Care Center of Sparta. There, she passed her time as the facility librarian and making soap fish, small statues of aquatic creatures made with a bar of soap, cloth, beads, and other craft materials. She received a great deal of attention, as she was the oldest living person in Tennessee, and the oldest resident in all of the facilities managed by Life Care Centers of America, the largest privately-held nursing facility company in the U.S.

She was featured in numerous newspaper articles and in Life Care Leader Magazine. She was a registered celebrity on startiger and had resolutions honoring her passed in the Tennessee General Assembly. She had also received letters of congratulations on her birthdays from governors and presidents.

On the morning of May 5, 2010, Roberts died in her sleep. She was 112 years and 54 days old


Life Care Center of Sparta celebrates Nyleptha Roberts' 112th birthday

Posted on Friday, April 02, 2010

Life Care Center of Sparta, Tenn., celebrated the 112th birthday of resident Nyleptha Roberts on March 12, 2010. The festivities began at 2 p.m., with Roberts' family members, facility residents, associates and visiting dignitaries in attendance.

Jimmy Rhodes, director of music services for Life Care Centers of America, provided music and entertainment for guests as they mingled and shared the occasion with Roberts. Speakers included state Rep. Charles Curtiss and Sparta Mayor Tommy Pedigo, who officially declared the day as Nyleptha Roberts Day.

Roberts is the oldest living person in Tennessee, the 9th oldest living person in the United States and the 21st oldest living person in the world.

"I am thankful to God for living to this age," said Roberts.

During the program, Roberts' family, including her younger brother, gathered around her and shared stories from her youth. Executive Director Matthew Cummings lead the large crowd in singing "Happy Birthday," and she was presented several bouquets and gifts from those in attendance.

Roberts celebrated her last five birthdays at Life Care Center of Sparta and is an active resident. She continues to serve as the facility's librarian and helps new residents feel welcome with her smile and guidance around the facility. With her sharp mind and creative talents, she makes and sells soap fishes – small fish assembled using bars of soap, push pins, doilies and beads. Roberts even helped plan her birthday party, including picking coconut-flavored cake and vanilla ice cream.

"We feel very blessed for having the honor of housing her," said Debbie Guy, activities director. "She is the queen of the facility."