Pearl Gartrell, who was born in Tignall on April 1, 1888, passed away in Jacksonville, Fla., on November 23. She was 120 years old.

Family members from this county who attended her funeral in Jacksonville were Barbara Gartrell Neal, Stella M. McLendon, Shirley Gladmon, and Robert Hampton.

Pearl was the sister of the late Estelle Bradley of Tignall. Pearl had eight children, but is survived by only one son, Thomas Huff. At the time of her death she had 38 grandchildren; 143 great-grandchildren; approximately 120 great-great-grandchildren; and an unknown number of great-great-greatgrandchildren.

She was written up on the front page of The Florida Star newspaper. She lived alone until she was 118 and was described as a very independent person who had one habit she would not give up and that was her can of snuff.

Mrs. Gartrell did not have a copy of her birth certificate since she was not born in a hospital. Her birth was recorded in a family Bible. The Florida State ID card did not show the exact year of her birth because the computer would not activate the year 1888. The Florida Department of Elder Affairs acknowledged that she was perhaps the oldest person living in Florida until the time of her death.

When she contracted pneumonia at the age of 103 and refused to be hospitalized they thought she would die. She did not like to take medication and when medication was prescribed she would hide it under her mattress.

She broke her hip and cracked her pelvis in 1998. When her surgery was completed and the pin in her hip had been placed, she insisted upon going home, and she did. Within months she was walking again.

Mrs. Pearl Gartrell had seen many changes in the 120 years of her lifetime.