Theda Baxter of Coral Springs. {courtesy}
Theda Baxter is living a long and happy life.
As she prepares to celebrate her 100th birthday, she remains active and helps people in her community at St. Andrews Towers in Coral Springs.
Her granddaughter, April, considers Theda, her best friend and looks forward to hosting a birthday party on July 6.
“The great thing is that she is self-sufficient from day to day. She prepares her breakfast, is social in the building, and teaches people to dance,” said April, adding, “She motivates other people and is very inspirational. Every Thursday, she gets on a bus and goes to Publix to shop.”
Theda is popular in her building and often bakes cakes for staff members. “She is very smart, and I go to her for advice. She always has wise advice,” said April.
Born on July 1, 1924, on an island off South America called San Andres, her family moved to Panama, where she spent her youth. Theda met her husband, Charles Baxter, a member of the U.S. Navy when he was stationed in Panama. They moved to Queens, New York, where they worked and raised April’s mother, Marilyn.
After a 35-year career in nursing, during which she cared for older adults, 13 years ago, she moved to Coral Springs, where she and her daughter followed April.
After retiring from nursing, Theda’s nurturing nature didn’t wane. She was pivotal in raising April’s three children, Alejandro, Christopher, and Chelsea.
“From picking them up from school to assisting my daughter with her schoolwork, she was a significant support,” April said. “Her influence on them is profound, instilling in them strong ethics and the values of respect and kindness. My grandmother’s guiding principle is ‘people need people.”
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