va Haddock Connors was born in 1891 in rural Florida and grew up on a farm near a hamlet called Kings Ferry, north of Jacksonville. Her eight brothers and sisters were a loving and closeknit family, and life on the farm was mostly hard work. But there were a few simple pleasures. One of Eva's fondest memories is of taking rides on the St. Mary's River in a riverboat called the Hildegarde.

When she was seven years old, it snowed in sunny Florida! Unfortunately for Eva, she was sick in bed with the measles. All she could do was watch wistfully through the window as the other children cavorted excitedly in the snow. She had to wait 65 years before it snowed again in Florida.

Her father, Rufus Haddock, owned 500 acres of "piney woods", from which he harvested lumber and resin. He supplemented the family income by delivering the mail by horse and buggy. Originally, he had owned a much larger parcel of land, but it was too far from town so he traded it for a homestead closer to King's Ferry so his children could attend school.

Being closer to town meant the children now had to walk only three miles through the woods and wade across a stream, keeping a wary eye out for snakes, to a one-room school house where they completed the equivalent of the eighth grade. Eva's most memorable teacher was a one-armed man who was a hard disciplinarian. She remembers that he would sneak up behind any boys who were misbehaving and clobber them with his one good arm! Understandably, this teacher was not well liked and the parents quickly found another teacher. Sometimes when there was no teacher available, Eva taught the other children.

Every night before going to bed, the whole family went to the parlor for Bible reading, prayer, and hymn singing with the pump organ. On Sundays, whenever there was a preacher, the family dressed in their best clothes, climbed into the wagon and went to church. Everyone carried baskets of food which contained luscious fried chicken, honey-baked hams, cakes and pies which they shared on tables under the large oak trees. They called it "dinner on the grounds."

Eva loved to visit her favorite aunt, the lovely, red-haired Sephronia. "Aunt Fron" told Bible stories in a way that was fascinating and dramatic. By the time she was eight, Eva decided she wanted Jesus to be her Savior. She imagined going to far-off lands as a missionary to carry the word of His love.

Soon thereafter, Eva was baptized in the St. Mary's River and dedicated her life to Christ. For an amazing 100 years she lived for Him.  Through all kinds of hardships she was an inspiring example of selfless Christian love.

Eva sitting on the banks of the St. Mary's river in the bright sunshine.

Eva's first ride in an automobile was memorable. It was an open-top motorcar, and before they had reached their destination, it started to rain. It filled up the bottom of the car, over the tops of her button-up shoes. When they finally arrived and she opened the car door, a torrent of water cascaded out, nearly knocking down a 10-year-old boy. Then her straw hat collapsed, giving her another faceful of water. To the end of her days, she remembered this event like it happened yesterday.