Beautician keeps working as she celebrates 101st birthday

January 21, 2020 8:54 AM

Callie Terrell was the oldest working beautician in Tennessee on her 100th birthday last year. This 2019 marks her 101st birthday, and she's wiser, sassier and still a busy bee. Undoubtedly, Mama Terrel's life is chock full of life lessons.

Callie Terrel from Memphis Tennessee is not your average entrepreneur. Truth be told she may have outlived many of them. And she comes bearing life lessons.

Between an interview, birthday phone calls and whipping up a pineapple pound cake for Thanksgiving, Tuesday was a busy day for the great-grandmother.

"Well, I can’t describe it," she told WREG. "I’m thankful I’m physically able to do some of the things I used to do.”

Beautician keeps working as she celebrates 101st birthday Pulse Nigeria

Callie Terrel: 101 Years of Life Lessons, And Doing What You Love

Those things still include working as a beautician, even though she said last year she was going to retire for her 100th birthday.

Beautician keeps working as she celebrates 101st birthday Pulse Nigeria

"I guess it’s not a lot of 101-year-old people in Memphis still working because they say, 'Still working?' Well, I’m still alive."

So it seems those plans for retirement are on hold for the time being.

"Well if you don’t use it, you lose it and people want me to work on them and they pay me. So why not do it,” she said.

And why should she stop doing what she loves, when it’s the likely reason she’s outlived her siblings and parents.

"I guess my secret is just working and keeping busy because that’s what I’ve done," she said. "I had a very successful business and what I do, I enjoy doing.”

Staying busy is what’s gotten her through life’s heartbreaks and setbacks.

More Wise Words From Mama Terrel

Beautician keeps working as she celebrates 101st birthday Pulse Nigeria

As she reflected Tuesday, her message to younger people is simple.

"Just do the right thing. What I mean is, you may be a church person. You believe in the Bible? Just live it," she said. "Love people. Regardless of who they are. If they don’t love you in return it doesn’t matter.”

Terrell will be featured on Steve Harvey's digital show on his Facebook page, and will be taped at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta.

Life Lessons To Learn From 101-Year-Old Callie Terrel

Do what you love earns you the kind of happiness that money cannot buy.
Hard work doesn't kill, it increases your life span.
Concerning that skill/talent, if you don't use it, you'll lose it.
Love people - all people, not just some people - whether they love you back or not.
Do the right thing, always. No matter how you feel about it, do the right thing.

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Also read: 109-year-old woman shares her secret to long life

This article was first published on AfricaParent.com