Special to the Journal

Lura Merle (Smith) Pope celebrated her 100th Birthday on Saturday, July 2 at the College Grove Community Church in Montgomery.

Her children and grandchildren gave the birthday party. There were approximately 150 guests.

She was born July 6, 1905 in Ft. Myers, Fla. She had one brother Hoke Smith who died in 1972. She married John Hassell Pope December 20, 1923. He was a native of Crenshaw County and is considered as one of the Founding Fathers. He was born December 6, 1904 and died May 9, 1983. They had three children. Lura Lane (Pope) Mitchell who died in 1990, Jonnie Kathryn (Pope) Westbrook who resides in Montgomery and William (Bill) Hassell Pope who resides in Wetumpka.

The family moved to Montgomery in 1936 where her husband was employed by Ballard Manufacturing Company as an accountant for many years. Later, he was self-employed as an accountant for different companies.

They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in December 1973.

Lura was a homemaker for many years and a caretaker later on after her husband developed rheumatoid arthritis. She now spends her time working in her flower garden.

Well-known relatives from Crenshaw County were George W. Pope, Dr J.O. Foster, Dr J.C. Foster (dentist) Houston Foster and Hugh Foster who were farmers, Edward L Turner and Lamar Smith, both still residing in Crenshaw County.