Drucilla Lyles is part of the so-called Greatest Generation, those Americans born during the Great Depression and who as young adults helped defeat Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan during World War II. Drucilla celebrated her 100th birthday on June 11, 2023. Her large family of descendants threw here a surprise birthday party at the Hilton Inn on June 10.
Drucilla was born in South Carolina and blessed at birth with exceptional intelligence and the resilience. As a young girl, she said she invented a type of hair curler in 1939 that was very popular and sold well; but she never patented the design and eventually someone else did, preventing her from profiting further off her own invention. Later in her life, she played an active part during World War II, relocating to Milwaukee in 1945 to work for NESCO a manicure of kitchen appliances who produced ammunition during the war.
Despite the fact that Drucilla only had one daughter, Joan Hood, she has been blessed with a multitude of descendants, five grandchildren, seven great grandchildren and eleven greatgreat children. Many of them were at the party on Saturday to celebrate with her, along with nieces, nephews, friends and other family. She retired in 1972, but said she continues on occasion to “mess around with hair,” as she modestly refers to her hair styling efforts.
“Treat everyone the way you want to be treated,” she said when asked for the secret to her long life.
