Not many people live to be 103 years old. But rather than celebrating her 104th birthday in 3 weeks, Vita Lee worries about staying in her home.
Channel 2 Action News reports that movers hired by Deutch Bank, and sheriff’s deputies arrived at the ranch style home yesterday to evict Ms. Lee and her 83-year-old daughter as community activists and Channel 2’s Ryan Young gathered outside. But after seeing Ms. Lee in her fragile state, the movers and sheriff’s deputies refused to go through with the eviction.
“I saw the sheriffs who came to put them out take off and leave. I gave all glory to God,” community activist Michael Langford said.
“This family has been waging a war against Deutch Bank,” said community activist Derrick Boezeman.
The eviction action was too much for Ms. Lee’s daughter. An ambulance rushed her to Grady hospital as news cameras rolled.
When Ms. Lee was asked if she knew she was being evicted, she said, “No. I knew they didn’t know what they was doing. God don’t let you do wrong.” She added: “You know, the Bible says ‘once a man and twice a child’. I’m a child, 104-years-old. Don’t put me outdoors at 104.”
Young explained that the house and case have been in the court system for years. Ms. Lee and her daughter has shared the home on Penelope Street in Northwest Atlanta for 53 years.
Ms. Lee had one last message for the ruthless bankers: “Please don’t come in and disturb me no more,” she said. “When I’m gone y’all can come out here and do anything you want to do.”
