Hattie Flowers was honored by the Tupper Lightfoot Memorial Library in Brundidge as its 2012 Woman in History.

Jean Carroll, librarian, said there have been many women who have made significant contributions to the Brundidge community and the award is one way that the library chose to honor their service.

“Brundidge has had and continues to have women who make important contributions to our community,” Carroll said. “We offered the community the opportunity to cast votes for the woman they thought has made significant contributions to the town and its people. Hattie Flowers received the most votes and we are proud to honor her.”

Carroll said Flowers, age 90, has been a caretaker for many people in the community for decades.

“Hattie has been a sitter and a caretaker for numerous people,” Carroll said. “She has a gentle and caring spirit and has been a blessing to those she cared for as well as their families. She worked at the hospital in Troy for many years. She is very loved in her church and is a wonderful matriarch to her family.”

Flowers is also a genealogical reference for many because she knows almost every family in Brundidge and “who begat whom.”

“If you want to know about somebody in Brundidge or their ancestors, ask Hattie,” Carroll said, laughing. “She knows everybody.”

Flowers’ favorite past time is fishing and she can often be found on the riverbank with her grandchildren but sometimes she likes to fish alone. That’s quiet time for her to reflect on her life that has been so richly blessed.

“I know that I’ve been blessed to have known so many wonderful people and to be a part of so many good things,” Flowers said. “When Ms. Carroll surprised me with this award, I didn’t know if I deserved it. I kept asking myself, ‘Do I deserve the good things that people said about me?’ I hope that I do. I don’t want to disappoint anybody. But I’m thankful that people think of me in a good way.”

Flowers said that she has always enjoyed caring for others.

“I started working at the Troy hospital in housekeeping but I wanted to look after people so I took a home class in nursing. That way I could be a non-licensed practical nurse,” she said. “But before I finished the home class, I got transferred to nursing.”

Flowers worked at the hospital from 1969 until 1984 when she retired.

“That’s when I started staying with people in their homes and I really enjoyed that,” she said. “I worked for some real good people. I still do.”

When Flowers is not caring for someone, she is working at her church, County Line Baptist Church in Brundidge.

“My church is my life,” she said. “It keeps me going.”

Flowers is president of the missionary society, a counselor for the matron department, vice president of one usher board and president of another and vice president of another missionary circle. She also helps with the nursery department and attends the Baptist State Convention.

Outside of church, she is involved in community activities and events, including the annual Peanut Butter Festival where her fried apple tarts are hot items and her turnips and cornbread sell like hotcakes.

“I look forward to the Peanut Butter Festival every year because I get to see so many people and talk with them,” she said. “I feel like a real part of Brundidge and that makes me so happy. I’m very blessed. I know that. I sure do.”