Couple still together after 81 years

COOKEVILLE, Tenn.—Couples take their vows, hoping to stay together forever.

However, marriages are hard work and many times are too hard.

Despite the ups and downs, a Tennessee couple is still together after nearly 81 years.

Lonnie and Jessie Mabrey have spent plenty of days together.

As those days turned into years, Jessie and Lonnie found a way to keep their love strong.

Jessie said, “It’s all pretty good. I don’t know which would be the best. I really don’t. We’ve always been happy together and everything.”

Lonnie said, “Wait a minute! You’re talking faster than I can think.”

They’ve been practically inseparable since first meeting as teenagers, 81 years ago.

Lonnie spotted her at church one day and came up with a brilliant plan at a party.

When Jessie decided to try her hand at bobbing for apples, Lonnie made his move.

Lonnie said, “Instead of the apple, I got the lips.”

Jessie said, “He was trying to get my lips and I was getting the apple.”

On Aug. 11, 1931, the pair decided to make their love official.

Jessie said, “He picked me up in high school. We went to Albany, Kentucky and got married.”

It was all in secret and came as quite a surprise to their families.

She said, “I didn’t go back home for about a week. I was afraid to.”

While the couple says things have been good, they agree they haven’t always been easy.

Jessie said, “We had a good life all the way. I just lost my children, that was about the worst part we had.”

Two of their boys died as infants but their son Bob is the light of their life.

Bob said, “The thing that they’ve relied on an awful lot has been their religion and their faith. That’s something they’ve always had. I was raised with it.”

No matter what life brings, they are in it together.

Jessie said, “We always talk things over, kind of agreed. I think it worked out okay, so far.”

Lonnie just turned 101-years-old and Jessie is still the apple of his eye.

He said, “Instead of the apple, I got her.”