By Erin Kidd
Lutheran Services Carolinas
SALISBURY — Naomi Brown has witnessed more than a century of history, from seeing Babe Ruth play baseball as a child to watching Atlanta Braves games from her home at Trinity Oaks.
At 105, Brown still follows her favorite team closely. A baseball from a Braves game sits on the table beside her chair, a reminder of a lifelong love of the sport. Family members say she rarely misses a chance to watch the Braves play.
“She loves watching the Braves,” said her daughter, Susan Loflin.
Born in 1921, Brown has lived through some of the most transformative moments in American history. When she was a young girl, her father took the family to see baseball legend Babe Ruth play. She also remembers seeing famed aviator Charles Lindbergh fly over her school.
“She’s lived through so much history,” Loflin said.
Brown was 15 when her family moved to Granite Quarry. At the time, local schools had added an 11th grade, allowing students to continue their education beyond what had previously been offered.
She later married her first husband, H.L. Hartman, and together they had two children, Ronnie and Susan. After her first husband died, Brown found love again when she married George Brown at age 49.
A World War II veteran and graduate of Catawba College, George Brown brought two children, Jan and Gary, into the marriage. Naomi embraced the challenge of helping raise a blended family.
“Gary was only 10 years old when they got married,” Loflin said. “Mom suddenly had another family to raise, and she did it with love.”
The family settled in Wilkesboro before eventually returning to Rowan County. George Brown, who was originally from Faith, wanted to return to the area where he had deep roots. The move also coincided with Gary Brown’s enrollment in the Fire Safety program at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College.
For much of her career, Brown worked at Belk, where she managed the baby department. The position gave her opportunities to travel to Charlotte on buying trips to select merchandise for the store.
“She always said she liked it,” Loflin said. “She enjoyed her work and the opportunities it gave her.”
Like many members of her generation, Brown was shaped by the hardships of the Great Depression.
“They lived through the Depression, and they learned to conserve,” Loflin said. “She didn’t waste things. She was careful, practical and appreciative of what she had.”
Those lessons stayed with her throughout her life. So did another habit she often credited for her longevity: eating her vegetables.
Brown made a point to eat something green every day, whether it was salad, green beans or another favorite vegetable.
She also maintained an active and independent lifestyle well into her later years. Brown continued driving until she was 100 years old and kept her driver’s license until age 101.
At 96, after living alone in a large home following her husband’s death, Brown decided to move to Trinity Oaks.
“I had been talking with her because she was living in a big house by herself,” Loflin said. “We knew Trinity Oaks was such a nice community, so we came to visit. After seeing it, she decided to move into an apartment.”
Brown spent several years in independent living before moving to assisted living two years ago.
Loflin said the welcoming environment and caring teammates have helped make Trinity Oaks feel like home.
“I think she likes the amenities they have, and she’s enjoyed it here,” Loflin said. “The staff is so wonderful. You couldn’t ask for anybody nicer.”
For Loflin, her mother’s 105 years represent a lifetime of resilience, adaptability and love for family.
“It’s so nice to have somebody with that kind of momentum and longevity,” she said.
Brown has six grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
