Two women highlighted by Trinity Presbytery celebrate more than nine decades of friendship
Corine Lytle Cannon, 105, and Sarada Spears Mitchell, 106, have been friends since high school
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has a historical story to tell. It is not only a beautiful story for Black history, it is also a story about two women who have remained friends for 91 years.
Corine Lytle Cannon, 105, of Charlotte Presbytery, and Sarada Spears Mitchell, 106, of National Capital Presbytery, are both Presbyterian centenarians who are highlighted here by Dr. Phyllis W. Sanders, Vital Congregations Coordinator and Commissioned Pastor Evangelist for Trinity Presbytery.
In a world where lifelong friendships are rare, Corine and Sarada have shared a bond that has endured nearly a century. Friends since high school, these two remarkable women not only bear witness to a lifetime of shared memories but continue to inspire generations through their faith and wisdom. Their lives, intertwined with service to their church and community, offer a powerful testimony to the strength of friendship and the legacy of faith.
The power of friendship and faith
Corine and Sarada met in 1934 at Logan High School in Concord, North Carolina. They shared classrooms and life lessons through the 11th grade, graduating together in 1936. During that time, high school ended at the 11th grade. It was around 1942 when the 12th grade was added to secondary schools in North Carolina. Though life took Corine and Sarada in different directions — Corine remaining in North Carolina and Sarada moving to Washington, D.C. — their friendship persisted, even into today as they celebrate their golden years in assisted living homes, a choice they each made without pressure or permission from family.
The younger of the two, Corine fondly remembers their high school principal, Ernest James, as well as many of their teachers and the subjects they taught. Even after their lives diverged — Corine staying in Fishertown, Kannapolis, North Carolina, and Sarada building a career in Washington, D.C. — they remained connected through occasional phone calls and shared memories. Their bond, forged in youth, has withstood the test of time, becoming a source of strength and joy in their later years.
A legacy of mentorship and wisdom
Corine and Sarada’s enduring friendship is not the only source of inspiration. Both women have dedicated their lives to mentoring younger generations, sharing wisdom steeped in Scripture and life experience. Even now, as centenarians, they continue to offer guidance and hope to their families, communities, and fellow residents in their assisted living homes.
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has long valued this type of intergenerational mentorship, which can create a greater sense of belonging and vitality in church communities. Titus 2:1-6 speaks to this, encouraging older men and women to guide younger generations with lives of reverence, wisdom, and love.
Corine and Sarada exemplify this calling. They both continue to share their life stories, filled with biblical lessons, helping others turn obstacles into opportunities. Their faithfulness to the church and their communities reflects the kind of life-long service that builds the foundation for healthy congregations and families.
Personal reflections from family
In reflecting on their incredible longevity, Sanders asked family members of both women to describe them in just one word. These one-word responses speak volumes about each woman.
Sarada’s niece, Geraldine Travis, describes her as “wonderful.” Blonde Davis calls her “wise.” Estella Dry says she is bright, and Myrtle Thomas concludes that she is smart. Each of these descriptions speaks to her vivacious life. Sarada did not have biological children but all of her nieces and nephews belonged to her. Sarada continues to share humorous and thought-provoking wisdom and even jokes with family and friends. When Geraldine told her that the author would be calling her with some more questions, she replied, “If she has some more questions for me, she better hurry and ask them while I still have some answers.”
Corine’s children offer equally vivid descriptions. Her son, John Wesley Cannon describes his Mother as “feisty.” The Rev. Dr. Jerry Cannon describes her as faithful. Both qualities would resonate with members of her family, church, and community in Fishertown and Cabarrus County in Concord, North Carolina. Her daughter, Sara Cannon Fleming, describes her mother as caring, always looking to help others in need. Sylvia Moon-Wynn describes her as knowledgeable, learning a lot in 105 years. Doris Cannon Love calls her mother a pioneer, citing her groundbreaking role as the first African American woman hired by Concord, North Carolina’s Cannon Mills Production Department. Corine Cannon has two children who preceded her in death: Dr. Katie Geneva Cannon and James Ernest Cannon, Sr.
The role of faith and the church
Both Corine and Sarada credit their Presbyterian faith for much of their guidance in life. Sarada, a lifelong Presbyterian, speaks of the church’s influence, teaching her “who to follow and who not to follow.” She recalls her father, the late John Walter Spears, an elder and superintendent of Sunday school at Bellefonte Presbyterian Church in Harrisburg, North Carolina, where she was baptized. Sarada’s faith has remained a guiding force, teaching her to “step aside and do what’s right” when faced with difficult decisions.
Corine’s spiritual journey began as a child and grew stronger when she married Esau Cannon at age 18 and joined the Presbyterian Church at age at age 19, as she tells it. Her mother and family were Presbyterians. Her involvement with the church has been long and active, spanning multiple congregations including Cedar Grove, Bethpage, and Covenant Presbyterian churches. She still teaches Bible study at her assisted living home, often reminding others of the biblical principle from Galatians 6:7, “… you reap whatever you sow.”
Both women’s faithfulness and commitment to the church have had a lasting impact on their communities. Corine, in particular, was honored with the Lucy Laney Award 2019 by the National Presbyterian Black Caucus for her decades of service. Her wisdom and dedication to teaching others about Christ remain central to her identity. She, too, is humorous and wise. She told the author, “Phyllis, if you are going to write a story about Sarada and me, you better hurry up; you know we are old.”
According to the Pew Research Center, the number of Americans ages 100 and older is projected to more than quadruple over the next three decades. The author and others encourage churches to embrace and connect older members to younger members. Both generations have value.
A lifetime of friendship and grace
Though Corine and Sarada no longer speak every day, their occasional phone conversations are filled with joy and reminiscence. They know they are among the last of their high school classmates and feel blessed to still have each other to share those memories. Both women express deep gratitude for their long lives, recognizing that they have been blessed by God’s grace. Their theme song at ages 105 and 106 is “What a Friend We Have in Jesus,” a fitting reflection of the faith and friendship that has sustained them for 91 years.
As centenarians, they offer a powerful reminder of the legacy of faith and friendship that can transcend time. They leave behind a message from Colossians 3:12-13: “Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.”
The number of centenarians like Corine Lytle Cannon and Sarada Spears Mitchell is growing, with women making up the majority. Yet, few will be able to claim the depth of friendship and spiritual wisdom that these two Presbyterian women have shared for over a century. Their lives remain a testament to the power of faith, love, and enduring connection.
“Happy are those who find wisdom and those who get understanding, for her income is better than silver and her revenue better than gold. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called happy.” — Proverbs 3:13-18
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