Today, Grice Connect wishes a very happy 100th birthday to Jerry Morris Trapnell!
His family calls him Morris, and his friends at Southern Manor Candler call him Trapnell, which he says he prefers. Trapnell was born December 16, 1924 and grew up in Metter, Georgia during the Depression in a family of 6 siblings. He attended school in Metter and completed his high school diploma at night, while living and working in Tampa, Florida.
He later joined the military at age 17 and was inducted into the Army at Fort McPherson near Atlanta. He was stationed first at Fort Roper near Muscogee, Oklahoma. A member of the 2nd Division, he trained as an infantryman and shipped out to England from more training, ultimately landing in France. On July 7, 1944, he was in the Battle of Saint-Lo, Manche, Normandy.
Morris never married, but said with a huge grin, ”I really didn't think I could afford a wife. I was only a buck private.”
Trapnell's first job out of the Army was as a teller and bookkeeper for Metter Banking Company. He also worked at the printer for the Metter Advertiser and served six terms (elected) for a total of 24 years as Clerk of Candler County Superior Court.
“He's quite the ‘cutter’ for sure, whistling coming down the halls and always smiling," shared Meghan McCullough, Director of Marketing at Southern Manor Candler. "He loves to wear his fleece robe to all occasions plus his UGA ball cap.”
A true lover of his Georgia Bulldogs and baseball, Trapnell never actually played himself, but said that's because he “was just being lazy!”
When asked what age he feels, Trapnell said 19. He attributes his long life to the ‘Good Master.’ His favorite cake is chocolate, with caramel a close second, and he admitted that he has no special birthday wishes.
“Mr. Trapnell keeps the spunk and flirt alive at Southern Manor at Candler. At a recent resident nomination celebration, he was awarded ‘Biggest Flirt’ and ‘Best All Around’ - both were nothing short of true. He is a true character and makes 100 years old look like a piece of cake,” affirmed Blake Nobles, Executive Director at Southern Manor at Candler.
On this milestone birthday, Morris/Trapnell, we celebrate you! Wishing you a Happy Birthday filled with your favorite chocolate cake, endless smiles, and echoing whistles while rocking your fleece robe and UGA ball cap with joy. Here's to you and many more happy years ahead!
Special thanks to Billy Trapnell for the photos.
