“I lost my corporate job and became a caretaker. Her daughters have since passed away. I didn’t have a mother growing up. My mother left my dad with five preschoolers when I was 4 years old. God just blessed me with a special mama later in life. I sold my house and sold or gave away all my stuff except for bedroom furniture and a few other things and moved in with her. We love each other so much. She’s the sweetest lady in the whole wide world. She saved my life. Before I moved in with her, I had been having a problem breathing and I was sweating a lot. She said, ‘My grandson is coming over and when he gets here, you’re going to the emergency room.’ I said, ‘I’m ok, mama.’ She never says a cross word and she said, ‘You’re not ok. You’re going to the emergency room and I don’t want to hear another word. That’s it. Period. End of discussion.’ And do you know they found a blockage and they had to put a stent in? She’s my wonderful mama and I love her more than life itself. ” – Caroline Chamberlain of Pelham with Naomi Osburn.

Osburn said she wouldn’t be here without Chamberlain either.

The two were enjoying tulips at American Village‘s Festival of Tulips after Osburn, 97, had just received her second COVID-19 vaccination.

Naomi Osburn, seated, just got her second COVID-19 vaccine shot and was out celebrating at the Tulip Festival with her caretaker Caroline Chamberlain. (Tamika Moore/People of Alabama)

“I was thrilled because I don’t want the virus. Not at my age,” she said.

She’s looking forward to celebrating another birthday this year and says the secret to her longevity is “bacon, onions and coffee, but not necessarily in that order.”

These are the faces and stories of people from all walks of life who call Alabama home. People of Alabama is a Red Clay Media and Alabama NewsCenter partnership.