AMERICUS — Lela Turner Wilson and Lewis Emory Wilson of Americus celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary Saturday in Rehoboth Baptist Church on Dawson Road. It was Lela’s 90th birthday.

“We met at Rehobeth Baptish Church around 1935 on Dawson Road,” Lela said.

Lela was born Aug. 14, 1920 in Plains, and she later moved to Americus with her parents. She is a graduate of Thalean Junior High School on Dawson Road. For 40 years, Lela was involved in arranging and decorating weddings on weekends, and she worked at the Manhattan shirt factory during the week.

Lewis was born Jan. 1, 1916. He is a graduate of Marion High School. He worked in various machine and welding shops including Long’s Welding and Machine shop for 30 years, and after this he began working for himself.

“It was love at first sight. I am the only woman he’s ever loved. He was really a good sweetheart,” said Lela. “He would buy me a hot dog and Coke and have me home by 10 p.m.”

The couple laughed as they recalled an incident that occurred before they were married. Lewis was driving an old car on U.S. Highway 19 with Lela and a friend, Dennis, as passengers. Rather than slowing down at one dangerous section of the road, Lewis floored the gas and it scared Dennis so badly that he had to go home from work that day.

Later, Lewis traded that old car for a newer model. He and Lela had discussed the payments that would have to be made in order to buy the car, and Lela said that she would marry him if he took the car back. So Lewis took the new car back and got the old car that he had traded for it. After five years of dating, they had decided to marry. Lela and Lewis were married in Cusseta in the country home of the Rev. R.L. Bivins, Lewis’ uncle.

The house in which Lela and Lewis are living was once nothing more than a field in 1945. They moved into their home November 1946, and the first furnishings they purchased were a bedroom suit, a dining room table and chairs, a kerosene stove and a cabinet.

Lela calls her husband a Jack of all trades. He loves to repair things, and his family has stated that he also likes to climb on the roof to make repairs. Lewis’  skill for repairing was often requested in fixing  machines at night. He kept the City of Americus equipment running for several years.

“He had to take all the jobs he could get,” Lela said.

“Back then, you had to hold down two or three jobs,” Lewis said. “If you were making $10 or $12 back then, you were doing well. A lot of people were making $1 a day.”

Lela and Lewis have two daughters, Kim Mountjoy and Kerri Untch, and two granddaughters, Nally Mountjoy and Kristen Parry.

“I wouldn’t trade my children for anything,” Lela said.

Lela said that Lewis is like “a cat with nine lives.” Before their first anniversary, Lewis fell off Jones Automobile building after the scaffolding fell. He was supposed to handle the welding, and the boy that was supposed to put the walking boards out for him had missed securing one board for him. Lewis stepped onto the board, and he said that the board went up and then down, sending him falling from 20 feet in the air. When Lewis landed, he broke his right arm and split his pelvis in two. He was taken to one clinic, and from there, he was dismissed because he was believed to have been “too far gone.” Next, he was taken to two local doctors. Lewis was in a coma for a period of time, and he was put into a body cast, where he could only move his arms. For two months, Lewis stayed in this condition, and it took Lela 18 months to nurse him back to health.

“We’ve really been blessed in so many ways,” Lela said. “Not many people can go through what he’s been through.”

As the couple recalled the amazing accidents that Lewis has survived, including accidents in which he survived a truck wreck, a hydraulic tank blast and a ruptured aortic aneurysm, Lela said, “It’s amazing that he’s survived all the things he’s been through. God was looking after him.” Lela’s daughter, Kerri, added, with a smile, “It’s because he’s had a good nurse.” Lela has helped her husband restore his health after every accident he has survived. They both survived the 1994 flood and the 2007 tornado in Americus.

Lela and Lewis still keep themselves busy with projects near the house and with events away from the house. They enjoy mowing the lawn and fixing things, and Lela especially loves to decorate. The couple enjoy traveling, as well.

“When our kids were in their teens, we went out West and bought a station wagon for $100,” Lela said. “We put new tires on it and went to Reno, Nevada.”

Lela said that they have also visited New York City and Hawaii, and they have been on a cruise once.

“And I love to dance,” Lela said emphatically. “My daddy was my favorite dancing partner, and we had a comedy act. We danced every Saturday night with our parents. They’re probably dancing in heaven now.”

“We’ve really enjoyed our grandchildren. We really enjoyed our children, too. We had a fun family. We were poor, though. Everyone was. We sure did have a lot of love,” Lela said.

Last year, Lela had cancer in her ankle. Radiation treatments had caused a bad burn which resulted in her doctor performing a skin graft which did not work. Lela went to a reconstructive surgeon and he cut the skin from the back of one of Lela’s legs to replace the hole caused by the radiation.

Lela said that she is thankful for her church friends. They have been very supportive emotionally, physically and spiritually, and she added, “My neighbors have been so good to me.”