Hundreds of Plant City residents marched, danced or rode in this year’s Florida Strawberry Festival Parade. But tucked in the back of First Baptist Church of Midway’s float was Daryl Sturgis, a woman with a unique claim among parade participants: She is 101 years old.
“It was fun, and it was tiresome. I had a good time,” Sturgis said.
Sturgis moved from Georgia to Winter Garden in 1925, when she was about 12. She remembers working in the orange packing facilities, always dressed as a proper lady.
“Three-inch heels, I packed oranges all day in,” she said.
In 1935, Sturgis’ family relocated to Plant City. She worked in the strawberry fields, as well as at Hooker’s Department Store, the Plant Hotel and some other businesses that have been well known throughout the ages.
Sturgis has had quite a few memorable moments at the festival in her lifetime.
She doesn’t remember her very first time at the Strawberry Festival, but she knows she went back when it was held at the site that is now Plant City’s downtown courthouse.
Sturgis has had a knack for Sturgis makes dolls and crochets their outfits. One of her dolls won first place at the festival, and it is still displayed proudly with its blue ribbon at her son Wayne’s house.
Another time, she volunteered at the festival, dressed up in a historical costume. She still has the dress she wore that year.
But one of her favorite memories was when she got to see Mel Tillis perform at the festival. Tillis lived in Dover, and he and Sturgis were friends. After one of his concerts, she got to go backstage with him.
Another time, she was outside of the concert venue gates, but that didn’t stop Tillis from saying hello.
“He reached over the fence and kissed me,” Sturgis said.
At age 101, Sturgis is still adding memories to her list, as 2015 was the first time she had the opportunity to participate in the Grand Parade. She has attended First Baptist Church of Midway since 1980, and the church invited her to ride on its float.
Sturgis’ longtime friend, Christine Holzhauer, sat next to Sturgis on the float.
Sixteen years ago, a friend of Sturgis moved from Plant City to Lakeland. Holzhauer purchased her Plant City home on the condition that she look out for Sturgis.
“She’s a pistol. She speaks her mind,” Holzhauer said.
Even with all of the years and experiences she has lived through, and all of the relationships she has built, Sturgis said she doesn’t feel her age.
“If somebody asked me, I’d tell them maybe 75,” she said.
Contact Catherine Sinclair at csinclair@plantcityobserver.com.