CADILLAC — Charlotte Barfield was all smiles on Wednesday and who could blame her?

She was surrounded by friends and family at a birthday luncheon that was held in her honor. While that is not that uncommon, the birthday Charlotte was celebrating was a real once-in-a-lifetime type of thing. On Wednesday, Charlotte turned 100 and she was happy to be gathering at the After 26 Depot for lunch.

The event included a mayoral proclamation from Cadillac Mayor Carla Filkins, cards, flowers and lots of hugs. The lunch she had, which was free, was a cup of soup and half a sandwich and to say Charlotte was the belle of the ball would be an understatement.

Filkins said the proclamation was not only due to the milestone birthday but also to recognize Charlotte, who has been an active volunteer since she moved to Cadillac. It also was to recognize her service in the Navy. To see the impact Charlotte had on the lives of many, Filkins said you only had to look at the people who attended the celebration Wednesday.

“Just look at all these different people who are here. She’s got a wonderful circle of friends and it, to me, is what community and service are all about,” Filkins said.

Whether has been her years of volunteering or her service to her country toward the tail end of World War II, Charlotte has been known to give of her time and talents. On Wednesday, it was all about recognizing Charlotte for reaching the milestone of 100 years old but also for her being a positive influence.

After graduating from J. Sterling Morton High School in 1942, the Berwyn, Illinois native went to Chicago to work at the Cudahy Meat Packing office and VogueWright Art Studio before enlisting in the U.S. Navy and the Woman Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service on May 2, 1945.

Also known as WAVES, the program was the women’s branch of the United States Naval Reserve during World War II. It was established on July 21, 1942, by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on July 30, 1942.

This authorized the U.S. Navy to accept women into the Naval Reserve as commissioned officers and at the enlisted level, effective for the duration of the war plus six months. The purpose of the law was to release officers and men for sea duty and replace them with women in shore establishments.

Basic Training was at Hunter College in the Bronx, N.Y. and next, she was sent to Washington D.C. to learn teletype, then to Charleston, South Carolina’s Navy Yard. After World War II ended, she was discharged on June 8, 1946.

She remembers her time in the Navy with many joys. In boot camp she learned to eat fast, to march, which to her was fun, and to do the about-face. At all times, she felt safe and secure and appreciated the education she received. She had feelings of accomplishment. She also said the best part of her service was becoming a veteran with all the men and women who fought and died for our country.

“It was one of the best years of my life because I learned how to march and I got stories to tell my children when I had children,” she said. “The government treated us very well. We didn’t have to go overseas.”

When asked what she thought about being a trailblazer for future women who served and are serving in the Armed Forces, Charlotte she didn’t realize at the time that her service would be looked at in that regard.

She said she made two wonderful friends while she served. One was from Boston while the other was from Ohio. They unfortunately have passed away, so she no longer has any close friends from her time in the Navy.

Charlotte’s daughter Bonnie Mayoral was at the celebration Wednesday and recently she moved her into her home. In a single word, she called her mother and the milestone amazing.

“She has always been active and up until two months ago she was still walking to Family Fare every week. Then we thought maybe it might be better to not do that,” she said with a smile. “She has been so active and she loves her family. I’m proud of her that she was in WAVES. There are not many women who have done that at that time in history. She was like a forerunner of all the women who came after so that was very important.”

Bonnie wasn’t the only one who thought what Charlotte accomplished was special.

On Saturday, Charlotte will be given a Living Legend Proclamation by the Military Women’s Memorial organization. The Living Legend Program recognizes military women whose stories of service provide inspiration and example for all to appreciate.

These stories serve to increase the public awareness of women’s contribution to America’s national defense and deserve special recognition. They make every effort to formally recognize and proclaim those women veterans who reach the age of 100 as a Living Legend and present them with a Living Legend Proclamation.

When she was 78, Barfield left Chicago to start a new life. After raising three children, she wanted to be closer to her grandchildren, so she moved to Cadillac and got a job with the U.S. Forest Service. Later, she worked for the Congregational Church. She’s also been involved in the Wexford County Herb Society and a volunteer for Hospice and Wonderland Humane Society.

rcharmoli@cadillacnews.com

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