The oldest resident of the William F. Green State Veterans Home has a birthday coming up on May 21, and the thing he wants most is to receive cards from as many people as possible. He’d like to have the same number of cards as the number of years he’s lived: 102.

The tradition of sending birthday cards to Henry Burgess started when he was approaching his 100th birthday. Since then, explains his son, Michael Burgess, each year, Henry starts watching for the cards to arrive.

“We read every one of them to him,” says Michael.

Henry can’t read them himself because his vision is so poor. Other than that, he’s a healthy centenarian with an encyclopedic memory. He has survived Covid twice.

“He takes a Tylenol PM at night and sometimes a Prilosec for indigestion, and that’s it,” his son says. “He’s always been that way.”

Henry attributes his longevity to three shots of Evan Williams bourbon, which he takes “religiously” every afternoon.

Born in Mobile during the Great Depression, Henry joined the U.S. Army in 1942 and served two years in Burma, where he worked as an aircraft mechanic on small airplanes. He returned to Mobile and his sweetheart, Mary, whose letters had sustained him while he was so far from home.

Henry and Mary were married for 75 years and raised three sons and a daughter. They loved Mardi Gras and were members of a non-parading organization. “They were both phenomenal dancers,” Michael says.

When they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, 500 people attended the party. “The International Trade Club was packed,” Michael recalls.

Henry has outlived his beloved Mary, as well as all his brothers and sisters. But his memories are as clear as can be. “He remembers everything, from the day he was born – everybody he’s ever met, every building in Mobile,” says Michael. “If you lived in Mobile, my daddy knew you.”

For the past three years, he has lived at the veterans’ home in Bay Minette. “At 98, he was on his roof,” cleaning it off, Michael says. “I had to get him down.” Henry insisted that he didn’t want to be a burden to his children – even though they would never consider him a burden – and called Michael to say, “I think I’m ready.”

He enjoys playing cards and bingo with his fellow residents at the home. For the past week or so, whenever Henry walks down the hall, he hears, “Here comes the birthday boy!” He would love to receive as many birthday cards as possible, even if they don’t arrive in time for his special day.

If you’d like to help make Henry’s birthday a memorable one, send a card to:

Henry L. “Diddy” Burgess

c/o William F. Green State Veterans Home

300 Faulkner Dr.

F Wing

Bay Minette, AL 36507