Caulfield-area woman to celebrate 100th birthday at community building Friday


Lena Blanche Tackitt Langston Harden, shown above at age 14

A special 100th birthday celebration will be held for Lena Blanche Tackitt Langston Harden from 3 to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26, at the Caulfield Community Building.

“Blanche,” as she’s known around the community, was born at Lavaca, Arkansas, to Willis and Martha Hill Tackitt. 

She was married to Elbridge Langston, who passed away in 2000. She re-married Richard Harden in 2003, but he passed away in 2009. 

Blanche is a matriarch of the Caulfield community. She and her first husband Elbridge were business leaders and were instrumental in numerous volunteer efforts around the Caulfield area. 

She had 10 siblings: Jewell Tackitt, Snowie Spoon, Esther Langston, Katherine Tackitt, Myrtle Hensley, J.B. Tackitt, Doris Bonham, Lee Olen Tackitt, Billy Joe Tackitt and Pauline Bean. 

Blanche and Elbridge had six children: Ramona Bean Joice, Terry Elbridge Langston, Sammy Ray Langston, Jacky Dwayne Langston, Dennis Emmitt Langston and Anita Lena Turner. 

They also had 17 grandchildren. 

Blanche’s parents traveled in a covered wagon in the late 1800s from Oklahoma to Arkansas before finally settling in Elijah where they raised their family. Her father’s family homesteaded land in the Elijah area in the 1800s. 

Blanche has been a member of the Elijah Church of Christ for 87 years. She was baptized in north Bridges Creek next to the church by Elmer Butler. 

Family and friends are invited to come celebrate Blanche’s life with her at the community building. Snacks and refreshments will be available.

Ozark County Times

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