One of Mexico’s true treasures was joined by friends and family last weekend to mark a milestone. Longtime citizen – and former employee of The Mexico Ledger – Harrietta Randolph turned 100 on Sept. 11, 2020.

As part of Harrietta’s celebration, a drive-by celebration was held at her home. Well-wishers exchanged waves, maintaining social distancing, but recognizing a well-respected and much-loved Mexico resident.

Born Harrietta Sims to Fletcher Sims and Eulah Mae Hamilton Sims, she was one of three children, including an older sister, Wilma, and an older brother, Fletcher Sims, Jr. Growing up on family farms in Audrain and Callaway counties, she remembers exploring the countryside laden with Native American artifacts and recalls being afraid of coyotes perched atop hills at night.

Horseback riding was a way of life for Harrietta. She rode two miles to rural Brooks School on horse during the week. It was a lively ride.

“The horse kicked and bucked the whole way,” she said. “On the way home, the horse ran fast – running into the fence, and trying to rub us off, or would go under low branches to get us off her anyway she could.”

On Sundays, it was 2 ½ miles to church, also on horseback. And that was in the days before those routes were paved – or even graveled – they were just dirt, or in the event of rain, mud. When she was 5, she and her brother would sit on the mule-pulled corn planter with their father. For the Sims family, it was truly a rural life, and gardening played a big role.

“I remember hoeing the corn – it was so hot,” says Harrietta, noting how large the family garden was. “Everything you ate you grew, and canned for the whole year.”

As a child, Harrietta’s mother always made angel food cake for her birthday. Mrs. Sims would also send her daughter to school with a special treat.

“My mom made thin slices of potato,” Harrietta recalls, “or now they are called potato chips. The other kids would look at you and stare at the chip.”

A member of Mexico High School’s class of 1938, Harrietta entered the workforce following graduation, working for none other than The Mexico Ledger. The Ledger was a daily back then, with a staff that included 12 paperboys.

“I worked for Mr. Mitchell White, the owner, as his secretary,” Harrietta said, saying Mr. White was a wonderful man. “I had to be the dumbest secretary ever,” she added with a laugh. “But he put up with me.”

Harrietta succeeded Ms. Camella Garrett, Mr. White’s previous secretary.

Harrietta worked at The Ledger until 1942, when she married her husband, Halfred Randolph, whom she met on a double date on Christmas Eve, 1941. A few years later, she would resume work at The Ledger, wrapping up her career with the paper in the mid-1950s. While at The Ledger, Harrietta covered society and news stories, worked the desk, helped with subscriptions and proofread. In summary, as she puts it, she did, “Whatever they needed.” She took shorthand and bookkeeping to help hone her skills. Looking back at days with The Ledger, ‘work’ may not be the word best-suited for her time there.

“I had fun,” she says. “I loved learning about creating the newspaper.”

She also remembers the many special editions printed when there was big breaking news, tragedies, World War II developments and murders.

Harrietta achieved notoriety, being named Mexico Royal Queen at the age of 19, earning a trip to Kansas City, where she competed with candidates from 10 other Missouri cities for the honor of Miss American Royal. She was fourth runner-up. She was also selected Miss Audrain County, 1940.

Mr. Randolph served in the Army during World War II, and the family moved around during his military career, living in the states of Arkansas, Washington, Tennessee and New Jersey. After wrapping up his Army career, the family moved to Mexico, where Mr. Randolph worked for Kaiser’s Refractories.

Harrietta’s hobbies over the years have included gardening, sewing, quilting and healthy eating, which is also something she credits for long life. She also ran a dance studio above the old Montgomery Ward years ago.

The well-wisher car procession, which was organized by First Assembly of God Church, Mexico, lasted about 30 minutes. Harrietta is a church member and enjoyed waving and watching from her porch with family.

“I have been Harrietta’s pastor for many years and I must say, she is one of the most pleasant, positive and upbeat people that I have ever known,” said Pastor Everett Bradshaw. “When she is not able to be with us at church, she is greatly missed. We all love and appreciate her so much.”

Attendance would have been much larger, but being COVID-19-conscious, some friends and family wished Harrietta a happy birthday via Facetime. Harrietta and family expressed their appreciation for everyone who helped her celebrate. Her family includes three children, Jone Oliver, and husband Jim, of Orange, Calif.; Jene OBlennis and husband Butch, of Kirkwood; and Jeri Cay Phillips of Columbia, and friend Harry Flock of Moberly; 13 grandchildren; and 23 great-grandchildren.