Photo by Nathan Kelly
0513: Floyd Stephens
Floyd Stephens has lived in Homewood for 64 years.
The secret to a long, happy life is a good diet, frequent exercise and lots of quality time with family – just ask Floyd Stephens. He turns 100 years old this month.
Born in Savannah, Ga., on June 18, 1913, Stephens has lived through The Great Depression, both World Wars and 17 United States Presidents. His first car was a 1945 Ford, and he got his first television in 1949.
How has he maintained a healthy body and mind? Stephens credits most of it to his diet full of fruits, vegetables and fish, and regular exercise, along with countless hours spent with his family of six children, eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Living long lives runs in Stephens’ family.
“My mother lived to 98, my dad to 90, my aunt to 103 and my grandfather lived to 107,” he said. “I guess you can attribute my age a little to genetics as well.”
Stephens has lived in Homewood since 1949, and his typical day includes a walk around the roads he has seen change from dirt to cement in his time in the City.
He attends mass every day at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church. In June 2010, he received an award from the church for “80 plus years of dedicated support as an acolyte and lector.” The award was presented to him by The Reverend Martin Muller, whom Stephens called the most influential man in his life. His mother was the most influential woman in his life.
Stephens attended college at St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore, where he intended to become a Catholic priest. That changed when World War II broke out, he said.
He enlisted in the United States Air Force to serve during World War II in 1940 and traveled to Guadalcanal, Australia, New Hebrides and New Caledonia over the next three and a half years in service to his country.
“Back then, a lot of guys like me who enlisted didn’t have any formal training until they made it overseas,” he said. “I never held a gun in my hand until I made it to Australia.”
After returning from the War, Stephens found a job with American National Insurance Company, where he remained an insurance agent for 31 years.
His humble lifestyle, though, stems from growing up through The Great Depression, he said.
“I remember the long lines, and there being no jobs. It was downright sad,” he said. “I never knew any different since I grew up in it, but living on beans for every meal really wears on you.’
Stephens’ cherished childhood memories came through sports. He played baseball with his friends on plots of land, he said.
He remains a sports fan to this day, rooting for the Atlanta Braves and Alabama Crimson Tide football team.
Stephens said the secret to a happy life is to love your family and God, to follow the law and to never give up on something you love. He lives by the phrase “givers gain, takers lose.”
As he approaches his 100th year of life, little has changed for Stephens, he said. Family and faith are paramount to his life, and those traits have not gone unnoticed.
His son, Greg, said he doesn’t know if he’ll ever live up to the man his father has been. His values have been passed down to his large family who stays closely knit. The Stephens family gathers in Homewood to celebrate holidays and birthdays. This year will be an extra special one as they celebrate the leader of their family’s 100th birthday.
