Elizabeth “Libby” Dobson’s 100th birthday was celebrated by family, friends, neighbors, and well-wishers on Sunday with a drive-by tribute held at the Oxford Community Center. On hand were Chief of Police, Pat Maxwell, Oxford Commissioners, John Pepe, Gordon Fronk, and James Jaramillo, and Maryland State Delegate Johnny Mautz. Frank and Mautz (who represented both himself and State Senator Addie Eckardt) presented Libby with special birthday citations and appreciations.
A lifetime resident of the Eastern Shore, Libby moved to Oxford over 35 years ago with her family, which now includes children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren, all of who are proud of her longevity and contributions to the family and community. Daughter Jenny Mezick listed just a few of them. “Mom is an accomplished photographer and a member of the Tidewater Camera Club,” she said. “She’s a lifetime member of the fire department auxiliary and also involved with the auxiliary at the Oxford Methodist Church.”
LEFT TO RIGHT IN PICTURE: Keith Parkerson, Kim Parkerson, Libby Dobson, Jennie Mezick, Lorraine Parkerson, Greg Parkerson, Danielle Parkerson, Brady Parkerson, Alyssa Parkerson, and Dick Mezick
Grandson, Greg Parkerson spoke of her resilience. “She doesn’t ask us for anything. She’s the kind of person you have to force yourself on in order to help. She’s selfless.” Great-grandson Brady Parkerson added: “As long as I’ve known her, as long as I’ve been alive, she has been just solid as a rock, you know, consistent. I will always remember her this way.”
Jenny recalled a time after Libby’s husband, Walter, died. “My sister and I had multiple phone conversations about what we were going to do about Mom because her life had evolved around him. But she surprised us. She was like a butterfly, and her wings came out. She said, ‘get out of my way,’ and off she went, and she hasn’t stopped yet.”
Libby smiled. “There were four of us, and we got named the Golden Girls. And we would travel everywhere.” Picking up on the story, Jenny said, “They would pile in the car, with Ms. Hazel driving. She was the oldest; she was in her nineties. The youngest was probably in her eighties, and they would drive somewhere, spend a week or a weekend, have a blast, and then drive home.”
Libby has been sidelined recently because of COVID, but that didn’t stop the parade of cars that passed by, dropping off cards and well wishes to commemorate a life well-lived.
Says Liza Ledford, Executive Director of the OCC, “Congratulations on that hundredth year, may we all get there and wonderful that the Commissioners and the State representatives came and celebrated Libby. We’re so thrilled to be part of something positive to end out this year.”
This video is approximately three minutes in length. You can learn more about Libby Dobson by watching a 2018 interview with Brent Lewis here
Jono Young says
Happy birthday Mrs. Libby! I was randomly thinking about you today, and was delighted to see this news. I was going to call dad and ask him how you were doing. You and Walter were so nice to us as kids, and we are so lucky to have had you as neighbors.