Social - October 2003

Trading roles, sharing life

Published October 31, 2003

Mabel Crouse and Cecelia Martin have learned that the essence of family is having a give-and-take relationship.

Crouse, 94, and Martin, 56, her niece, belong to the family for which the town of Crouse is named.

Throughout the years, they’ve seen the area change, but one of the most prominent changes has been in their own relationship.

Theirs is a story filled with love, strength and support.

Crouse was a second-grade teacher at Love Memorial Elementary School for 39 years.

She never married or had children. She thought of the kids in her class as her own.

She lived through a time with no electricity, telephone or television and witnessed the invention of each.

She’s watched the world change and experienced World War I, World War II, the Depression, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and the war with Iraq.

Martin and her grandparents moved in to Crouse’s home, a yellow house built in 1903, after her mother died. She was three years old.

When she was 11, Martin’s grandmother died, and Crouse became her primary caretaker.

Now, that’s changed, and their roles have reversed.

“She used to drive me to school,” Martin said. “Now she rides with me wherever she needs to go.”

Martin and her husband, Steve, now care for her aunt.

“I have been with Mabel a total of 45 years,” Martin said. “I always knew that Mabel and I would be together somewhere and I would be caring for her.”

Cecelia and Steve Martin have been married for 28 years. They lived in Raleigh for seven years before moving back to Lincoln County, and Crouse, who lived alone, would come visit regularly.

“She used to drive up and come see us,” she said. “I always knew we would settle back together.”

Martin said she strongly believes in caring for family members at home as long as it is possible.

Sometimes it can be a challenge, she said, but she knows it’s what she wants to be doing.

“Sometimes it can be hard,” she said. “But I can imagine that it is hard caring for little people, too.”

Martin admits the change in roles has been a switch for Crouse, who’s always been an independent woman.

Crouse said Martin is a good caretaker.

“She is doing a good a job as I did,” Crouse said.

The Martins take Crouse shopping at Belk’s and Dillard’s when they can. Sometimes they go to Charlotte.

And they take great care when decorating the home they’ve spent so much time in.

Pumpkins are placed in the yard and the grass is blanketed in fallen leaves of red, orange and yellow hues.

Martin is happy with the way her life has turned out and regrets nothing about her situation.

“We have a good time,” she said. “I am glad things happened the way they did.”

Mabel Crouse, Cecelia Martin

© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

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