When Lorraine Torrence was a young child, she rode to school in a covered wagon. Her parents traveled in a horse and buggy (or as she says jokingly but frankly, “a buggy driven by a horse”). Movie stars such as Mary Pickford and Rudolph Valentino adorned the big screen in the silent “flickers.” The Charleston, a popular new dance, was all the rage.

Lorraine is celebrating her 105th birthday today. She was born as Lorraine Hamilton on June 21, 1918, in the Piney Mountain area near Oakville to Alvin and Bessie Hamilton. Woodrow Wilson was President of the United States at the time of her birth.

She was raised with 10 other siblings: six brothers and four sisters. Only one brother, Hunt Hamilton, survives. He is only five years younger than Lorraine and lives off of Horseshoe Road.

Lorraine attended elementary school through seventh grade before moving on to Appomattox High School. In her early years at the Vera school, students were transported back and forth by a covered wagon. One day, that wagon was nearly submerged as it crossed over a river after school. According to Lorraine, the river is located on Route 24 near D.C.’s Mini Mart on the way toward Vera.

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