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By Charlotte Underwood
JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF) – WLAF wants to wish Bertha Rutherford Bruce a very happy birthday! Bertha turns 100 today on Jan. 24. A celebration with family is planned for the centenarian.
Originally from the Morley area, she now resides in Jacksboro. Bertha and her husband James C. Bruce raised seven children, including five boys and two girls. All but the last one was an at home birth. She has 16 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren.
“She is just the finest woman who has never had the first bad word out of her mouth, she’s just an angel,” her son Jack Bruce said.
According to him, his mom was an avid gardener over the years, “canning and putting up food for the whole family.”
According to her daughter-in-law Darlene Bruce, Bertha has been the best mother-in-law.
“She taught me how to can and how to take care of my family and was instrumental in me becoming the woman I am today; I don’t know what I would have done without her. I have had the best times in my life with that woman,” Darlene Bruce said. Bertha loves strawberries, and so we will be eating a strawberry cake on her 100th birthday.
Bertha also substitute taught in the school system in the Royal Blue area, where she and her husband raised their family until moving to Jacksboro in 1975. She spent 25 years as the postmaster of the Pioneer Post Office until retiring in 1984 and was instrumental in getting a new post office in that area.
Bertha is a member of the LaFollette Church of God, where she taught Sunday School for 30 years.
“She’s just a wonderful woman who has always loved and been there for her family,” Darlene Bruce said. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 01/24/2022-6AM)
We didn’t keep in touch as much as I’d like but I have and always will love and respect you. I was taught so much too from you. Happy 100th Birthday Mom Bruce. I love you 🍰