Kingsport resident, avid quilter celebrates 100th birthday

KINGSPORT — Velma Frady celebrated her 100th birthday on Thursday in Kingsport with pizza, watermelon and cake. Brookdale Kingsport residents and staff surprised Frady with a party, where she shared stories of her childhood and some of her favorite memories. She most fondly reflected on learning to sew and quilt, both practices she still participates in today. "I took my first quilt class in 1980, and then I was able to start doing that, taking classes and then teaching classes," she said. Frady said her mom taught her how to sew, but she taught her mother how to quilt. According to Frady, she took her first quilting class at Dobyns-Bennett High School. After her mother taught her the basics of sewing, she said the next day she learned how to sew a dress from a pattern. "My mom taught me to sew when I was about 9 years old," Frady said. "She was working on a sewing machine and I said, 'Mom, I'd love to learn to do that.' She said, 'Well, sit down here and I'll show you how,' and all of a sudden you have to put the fabric under a needle without getting your finger stuck." Cindy Sproles and Gary Frady, two of Velma Frady's children, said they probably have kept at least 80 of her quilts with around 25 wall hanging quilts. Her quilts are frequently displayed at Brookdale Kingsport, the assisted living facility where she stays. Girl Scout troop She was also proud of the Girl Scout troop she helped lead at Lynn Garden Baptist Church. Frady said her daughter wanted to join the troop, which later led to her taking over leadership for the group. "When we had to earn a badge, most people just say, 'OK, you did that' and check it off," Sproles said. "We had to show proof. You had to write everything out and you had to actually do it." Sproles explained that her mother taught members of the troop swimming, quilting, backpacking, first aid and much more. "You couldn't earn a badge in a week," she commented. "It took two months to earn a badge because then she knew you learned how to do it. But she did things with our Girl Scout troop that nobody else ever did." After leading the group for 11 years, Frady said she had 10 girls graduate from the troop. She even added she has a quilt with all the girls from the troop on it, commemorating the experience of those times together. Frady was a graduate of the school that was Sullivan West High School. When asked about what words of wisdom she wanted to share, Frady said: "Learn to do anything you want to do. Don't just sit around and do nothing." Before blowing out the candles of her birthday cake, Frady wished everyone happiness and strength as her birthday wish.