Ida Mae’s Tips for a Terrific 2023

Armchair Chats A Occasional Feature by ELAINE THOMAS

La Grange School cafeteria staff members in 1972 were (left to right): Mrs. Sulak, Mrs. Eilert, Mrs. Kovar, Mrs. Pietsch, Mrs. Preston, Mrs. Darden, Mrs. Lehmann, Mrs. Kappler and Mrs. Drab. Photo courtesy of the Fayette Heritage Museum and Archives. Ida Mae Darden’s zest for life is contagious. A few years ago, the Darden family gathered for a family event. Left to right were: Nelson Jr., Deborah, Ida Mae and Nelson, Kenneth, Yolanda and Andrew. The Dardens are a large, close-knit family. Ida Mae and Nelson attended school in Fayetteville, Round Top, Carmine and La Grange. Nelson, who worked for LGISD for 13 years, planted the trees in front of the school. He retired from the Texas Animal Health Commission after 25 years of service. Ida Mae and her husband, Nelson, graduated from Randolph School in La Grange. After getting on the bus in Fayetteville, Nelson always had a seat saved for Ida Mae when she climbed on in front of her family’s home in Oldenburg. Photo courtesy of the Fayette Heritage Museum and Archives. Ida Mae, on the front row, second from right, was on the 1972 LGISD Parent Advisory Council. Also pictured are (front row, left to right): Mrs. Roberta Moore, primary reading teacher; Mrs. Ida Mae Banks, committee member; Mrs. Darlene Johnson, kindergarten teacher; Ida Mae; and Miss Patricia Pettie, secondary English teacher. (Second row, left to right): Mrs. Barbara Mueller, counselor-program coordinator; W.O. Miller, junior high principal; George Smith, intermediate reading teacher; Wilburn Duncan, committee member; and Charles Williams, committee member. (Third row, left to right): Fred Oppermann, elementary principal; Ray Cornes, director of instruction; Ricky Peters, secondary math teacher; Dick Wessels, secondary English teacher; and Dan Heger, primary math teacher. Photo courtesy of the Fayette Heritage Museum and Archives. From the time she was a child, Big Spring Hill Baptist Church on Roznov Road near Fayetteville, played a big part in Ida Mae’s life. Her family worshiped there every Sunday, often spending the entire day with other congregation members. “That’s what we did for fun,” Ida Mae recalls. She is now a member of St. James Missionary Baptist Church at Plum.

Fayette County Native Ida Mae Darden Shares Advice for a Contented Life

A broad smile creased Ida Mae Darden’s face as she welcomed me at the door of her La Grange home. Although we’d never met, I had the feeling I knew the 81-year-old because she seemed so happy to see me. I also sensed Ida Mae was barely holding back on giving me a big hug.

I wasn’t surprised at this warm reception because I had it on good authority that Ida Mae has never met a stranger. Not surprisingly, our conversation quickly turned to her upbeat, positive outlook on life. Framing her comments by declaring that disappointments, loss, hardships and tragedy are inevitable, Ida Mae ticked off several tenets she lives by.

Ida Mae says whatever you do, do your best.

“Let me give you an example. When you cook, cook with respect. Don’t just throw ingredients together. When I was growing up near Oldenburg, my mama wouldn’t accept a pan of cornbread if it was all lumpy. She’d tell me I had to whoop that cornbread mix until it got smooth. In other words, I needed to do my best.”

The cooking analogy is appropriate because Ida Mae spent 18 years working in the La Grange School Cafeteria.

“Today, when I meet some of those children that got children and grandchildren of their own, they say to me, ‘Oh, Mrs. Darden, we would get to the door of the cafeteria and peep in to see who was serving. We would be glad when it was you because you put a whole lot on our plates.’” There’s likely another reason the kids liked Ida Mae – she liked them first. Serving the children’s meals was more than a job; it gave her pleasure.

Ida Mae always enjoyed cooking for people she looked after in their homes. Years ago, she also picked cotton and cut tops, field work that she didn’t like too much.

Ida Mae says respect yourself.

“Take pride in your appearance. When you’re clean and your surroundings are clean, the best way you know how you feel better.

“I’m not necessarily talking fancy here. I’m just saying respect yourself.” Ida Mae says keep on going and keep up.

“I lost my husband, Nelson, four years ago and I miss him terribly. People say to me, ‘Don’t you get lonesome?’ I tell them no, I don’t sit around wishing for things that can’t be. I keep busy. “I don’t know much about my cell phone, but I like it. I think technology is awesome,” Ida Mae explains, unlocking her phone to show a screen filled with apps and a lengthy contact list.

“I got five children, 13 grandchildren and 12 greatgrandchildren. I can’t hardly text, but I can read a text and answer it. Look here, I got 109 messages! I don’t have a dull moment, but no foolishness. No Facebook for me.” Ida Mae says to do something to make yourself happy.

On her phone, Ida Mae gets daily devotionals and a word for the day. She passes along printed copies of booklets that offer Bible-based positive thoughts to about 65 friends through the mail and in person.

Ida Mae is a woman of faith. She’s also a woman who accepts invitations.

“On Thanksgiving, I went to Houston with my daughter and one son to celebrate with my sister, Therline Darden. (Therline and I married two first cousins.) Therline did all the cooking. It was so nice. It was so much fun!

“Christmas? Oh, Christmas has always been a special time for us.”

Ida Mae says God made us all. We’ve got to love one another and be kind to one another.

“Whatever God gives me, whatever day God gives me, it’s OK. If you pray every day, you can’t go wrong because God will help you every day. When you got God in your life, you got nothing to worry about.

“That’s how I make it. I haven’t had no trouble with anybody. People are always so loving and kind to me, but the saying goes in order to have a friend, you have to be friendly yourself.” *** Ida Mae continues to make new friends and celebrate all the relationships she has nurtured over the years.

As for that hug I sensed Ida Mae might be holding back when I met her, I got it when I was leaving. I knew then why all those kids waiting to enter the school cafeteria were excited to see her on the serving line. Ida Mae is an unforgettable lady.