Джон Бонапарт отпраздновал столетний юбилей: от каменщика до свидетеля исторических перемен

100 Years of Living HistoryFree Access Trisha Murphy John Bonaparte often finds himself counting his many blessings. In fact, it’s something the Crescent City man who turned 100 last week has been doing for years. “My attributes to a long life are working hard, eating right, staying active and lending a helping hand whenever needed,” he said. Bonaparte was born Aug. 28, 1926, in Elloree, South Carolina, to Cora Lee and Muncey Bonaparte. He is the oldest of three children, who include his baby brother Jasper, 96, and brother James, who died six years ago at 90. His mother was a housekeeper, and his father was a mill worker. “My brothers were smart, kind and helpful,” Bonaparte said. “They helped me when I first started my masonry business. They were easy to get along with and fast learners.” Bonaparte grew up on the east side of Jacksonville off Swift Street and graduated from Staton High School in 1944. As a kid, he worked for a wood and ice company as a delivery person; was a shoe shiner for Chris Cartoonist, an ice and wood warehouse in Jacksonville; and worked as a screen printer at the Crescent City Weekly News for five years. He joined the Navy during World War II before starting his own business, Bonaparte’s Masonry Building Co., in 1955. He retired from his business in 1991. Some notable places to which he brought his expertise include Jerry’s Drive-In in Palatka and the first home of Robert McClendon, the former president of what is now St. Johns River State College in Palatka. Bonaparte married Gloria Moore in 1950, and they had two children, Gwendolyn Evans and Malcolm Bonaparte Sr., now deceased. His wife died in 1978. John Bonaparte is also the father of Joanifuer Jones, who is married to Marreo Jones. Bonaparte has six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Today, Bonaparte lives independently in his South Putnam County home and enjoys spending time with his dear friend, Emily Williams. “Reaching 100 years is such an incredible blessing,” Joanifuer Jones said. He has been a member of Veterans of Foreign War Post 10177 in Crescent City for 12 years, the Lion’s Club for 10 years, Johnson’s Temple Church of God in Christ for 78 years and the builders trade at Crescent City Junior-Senior High School with instructor Nathaniel Harris for 14 years. Bonaparte enjoys jigsaw puzzles, crossword and word searches, and some of his favorite things to do are gardening, talking to his brother, spending time with his family, fishing, doing small building projects, scrolling on Facebook and contributing to the local community. “They keep your mind sharp,” he said. “I also enjoy drawing, painting, art and gardening. My desire is to complete more art projects.” Bonaparte speaks fondly of his masonry work, especially the aspect of seeing a project go from start to finish. Although there was an unsavory aspect of his work, he found joy in making others happy. “The good things I remember during my lifetime are building homes, watching a blueprint come to life and seeing the look of satisfaction on customers’ faces,” he said. “The bad thing I remember is, at times, I would do all the work and not get paid once services had been rendered.” Joanifuer Jones loves listening to her father’s stories and asking him questions about when he grew up. “I love to hear his thoughts on popular topics going on in the world,” she said. “His mind is still sharp, and, boy, his stories are loaded with details and, at times, bring tons of laughter.” Bonaparte has advice to give others on living a long life. “Love one another and have a heart of forgiveness,” he said. “I’ve learned that you should treat people the way you want them to treat you. Be kind, be respectful and help people when you can. You never know what someone is going through, and the way you treat people says a lot about the kind of person you are.” A birthday celebration was held at Lochside Restaurant in Crescent City on Sept. 30, where friends and family celebrated Bonaparte becoming a centenarian with good food, heartfelt gifts, laughter, cherished memories and birthday cake. Bonaparte said there is not a single thing he would change about his life, but there are still two items he would like to check off his bucket list. He wants to see the new Obama Presidential Center in Chicago and would love to meet President Barack Obama. “I’ve traveled many places in my lifetime and have lived long enough to see things I never thought I would see,” he said. “Growing up as a Black man in America, there were places we couldn’t go and opportunities we didn’t have. To live to see a Black man become president meant something special to me. I would like to shake his hand, see the history and let him know that his accomplishment meant something to men like me. At 100 years old, that would be a moment I would never forget.” As a man of faith, Bonaparte said if he had to describe himself in one word, he knows what it would be. “Happy,” he said. “I am convinced this is how God wants us to be, by doing as the Bible says: taking care of my family, working hard, treating people right and doing the best I can with what God has given me.”