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A recent report by David Begnaud for CBS News that has notched up over 4.5 million views will definitely have you shed a tear or more.
The video is actually about the centenarian's impressive physical prowess when she completed a 100-meter race in 1 minute and 3 seconds, setting a record at the Senior Olympic Games in Louisiana. However, while listening to Julia Hawkins, we also get the opportunity to hear about her life with her late husband, Murray Hawkins.
With a flower in her hair, Julia, who incidentally ran her race with a look of determination as she steadily kept to her lane despite having impaired vision, explained that winning the record was just a "drop in the bucket" compared to the rest of her life.
Describing life back in the 1920s as "much calmer," with "fewer buttons to push, but lots of books to read," Julia shared that she met her husband at Louisiana State University when studying. On that very first day the young woman wrote about her future husband in her journal.
The pair actually married "by telephone" when her husband was stationed at Pearl Harbor during World War II. They went on to have four children and share 70 years together as man and wife, and Julia became a teacher.
Murray died at the age of 95, and Julia explains that now, life without him "it's not the same. It's not quite as wonderful."
Hearing her describe her late husband, you can see and hear the deep love the senior athlete had for him. But the sweetest moment comes when she describes his death. We won't ruin it for you and describe it here, take the time to listen to Julia in her own words. It truly was a most beautiful end.
While the Baton Rouge native states she is ready for her own life to draw to a close, she still keeps active by jogging a mile or two every day. Perhaps she'll compete again next year, or perhaps she'll fall asleep and return to her beloved husband. In any case, we pray the loving wife-turned-athlete will continue to inspire us in the time she has left with us.
