Two more turn 100 at Riverdale Nursing Home

The Riverdale Nursing Home, at 641 W. 230th St., is now the home of two more centenarians — Robert Carter and Theresa Pearson. 

Mr. Carter, a World War II veteran, was born and raised in Harlem at the height of the Harlem Renaissance. He remembered his childhood with a smile.

“People would come from all over the world. They had to come to Harlem, “ he said. “It’s what you call freedom — what we called freedom.”

Mr. Carter recalled reveling at the sight of people flocking to his neighborhood to experience all manner of cultural offerings.

“People came from all over the world to see what these blacks were doing in Harlem,” he said. “That’s all I know, the freedom part is the part I fought for.”

Mr. Carter fought in Europe in the Second World War and continued to work with the Army after the war was over.  The veteran said that turning 100 was a surreal experience.

“I can’t believe it myself, to tell you the truth,” Mr. Carter said. “I can’t even recount 100 years. I still feel like I’m 35.”

Ms. Pearson and her husband Doctor Pearson, 99, originally hail from Augusta, Georgia, and Bishopville, South Carolina, respectively. The couple met at a restaurant in New York and married 72 years ago.

“I was sitting there alone,” Mr. Pearson said. “A friend of mine came in with two ladies, and I knew him because he came from my hometown and he introduced me to the two ladies, and that’s how we met.” 

Mr. Pearson, who did most of the talking for his wife, said that he moved to New York at 17 to find work during the Great Depression.

He bounced between jobs until he eventually enlisted to fight in the Army as well.

“I worked about 50 jobs before I joined the military,” Mr. Pearson said. “When I was in the military, I went to Japan, fought the Japanese.”

Ms. Pearson also moved to New York at 17 to find opportunity in the city.  She says she is proud of the life she’s lived.

“I’ve lived a good life. I’ve been a good person,” she stated. “I’ve a had a good life. That’s all I know.”

Mr. and Ms. Pearson are now both residents of the Riverdale Nursing Home.

“Our oldest son is 71,” said Mr. Pearson. “So we started having babies sooner rather than later.”

When asked how she felt having turned 100, Ms. Pearson said she felt her life was complete.

“I was a good person. I went to church every day,” she said.  “I just want to be in Heaven.”