Friends of Ruth Putnam came together to honor her for reachingthe century mark Saturday in two separate gatherings, the first atHaven Hall Health Care Center and the other at Western Sizzlin.

The Rev. William Matthews, a family friend, said he met Putnamin Syria, Va., in 1994 when he drove a family member north to seeher. She ended up moving to Brookhaven to be with her grandson, whodied in 1998.

“She’s a wonderful person, and she’s always been very special asfar as her Bible reading,” he said. “She calls some 40-50 peopleout by name in prayer each morning, as well as President GeorgeBush, Billy Graham, her children … she was unique that way.”

Putnam had four children with her husband George Schultze, andattended college to become a nurse. Matthews said she lived byherself until August 2007 when she moved to Haven Hall.

“She took care of herself and everything,” said Matthews, addingthat she’d had a long and full life. “She had milk goats and wouldmake cheese and drink goat’s milk. She always had cats and dogs,and was quite an animal lover.”

Matthews said Putnam was an attendant at several differentchurches in her time in Brookhaven, but most recently at Union HallBaptist Church.

“I wish she could tell some of her wonderful stories,” he said.”But she has a little difficulty in that now.”