Mt. Laurel couple celebrate birthdays after 75 years together
William and Willie Mae Fullwood, both originally from Dublin, Georgia, met 75 years ago in church. He was 22 and she was 25.
After "five or six months" of courting, William popped the question.
"I remember, I think, when I first asked her to marry me she told me, she said, 'I'm too much older than you,' " William recalled.
"I remember that just as good as yesterday. And I didn't say no more, I just went on back going to see her every Sunday like I'd been doing and something happened. We got together. She wrote me a letter and said she was ready."
Throughout their marriage, they remained steadfast in their Baptist faith and credit God for their success in life and marriage.
Today, they celebrate Willie Mae's 101st birthday. On Saturday, William turned 98.
They have eight children together and raised them in Florida and later in Mount Laurel, where they currently reside. William made a living as a farm laborer and Willie Mae, formerly a school teacher, stayed home to raise their children.
Two years ago, Willie Mae moved to the Mount Laurel Center for Rehabilitation and Healthcare. A year later William followed.
They stay in the same room.
When asked how they managed to stay together as long as they have, William laughed, and with a smile said, "We're church-going people."