Ruth Mae Anderson Travis, proof positive that big things come in small packages, has enjoyed many titles and accolades in her lifetime.And more are coming her way. Today, she became a member of yet another unique group: the centenarian circle.So, please join me in wishing a happy 100th birthday to the longtime Akron community activist and social dynamo.Born Sept. 26, 1911, to Bennie and Emma Anderson in Pansey, Ala., Mrs. Travis moved with her family in 1923 to Kent, where she was active in Union Baptist Church.Mrs. Travis — who was surprised over the weekend with a birthday celebration at Copley Health Center — attended Kent City Schools and graduated in 1932 from Kent Roosevelt High School, where she was a star in basketball and track and field. “They’d shoot the gun to start the race, and nobody could catch me!” she shared with Akron sorority sister Cheryl L. Hooks.She graduated in 1937 from Wilberforce University with a degree in health and physical education and a minor in the biological sciences, and she became a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. She is still active in the Akron chapter, Mu Rho Zeta. That same year she married her high school sweetheart, Ruther “Rudy” Travis. From that union a son, William Bennie Travis, was born.Rounding out the family are two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.Mrs. Travis worked 30 years for the Ohio Bureau of Employment. She has been active in Akron’s Mount Zion Baptist Church since 1943, where she served on the usher board as secretary and was president of the improvement committee, founder of the sick and shut-in committee, a member of the kitchen committee and financial secretary for more than 35 years.She’s also been saluted in other venues:• United Way Women of Summit County, the Ray Jeter Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service.• Women’s Board of Family Services of Akron, certificate of appreciation for 15 years of service.• Order of the Eastern Star/Mary Chapter 47, Outstanding Star and Past Worthy Matron.• Daughters of Isis, Outstanding Daughter award and Past Illustrious Commandress.• El Zerubbabel Court No. 5, Past Most Ancient Grand Matron for Ohio.• Judge Harold K. Stubbs Award for Community Service.• Joyful Seniors Travel Group.• Women’s Board of the Summit County Juvenile Court, volunteer (still active) and committee chairwoman for more than 10 years of the Christmas Giving for Youth campaign.• A proud and active member of the LeBron James Grandmothers Fan Club.Dinner with childrenA gentle reminder that today is national Family Day: A Day to Eat Dinner With Your Children.The campaign — launched 10 years ago by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University and endorsed by President Barack Obama — is a tool to get parents and children to sit down together over a meal, a nonthreatening situation, and address issues of concern.Mealtime, it’s been said, is the perfect time to talk to our children and hear what’s on their minds.If you want to make this particular evening’s meal an event the whole family will remember, Acme Fresh Market offers The Acme Family Cookbook ($12), with more than 300 recipes that will get you moving in the right direction.Here’s wishing you many more family meals together. It is urgently important.Personal safetyThe Summit County Sheriff’s Office training bureau is sponsoring a free course from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 18, designed to help residents develop personal safety strategies.According to a spokesman, the main focus will be firearm safety in the home. Other topics will include the psychology of criminal predators, mental preparedness and safety at home.Register early, as class size is limited to 30. Please call 330-896-4019. It will be conducted at the Robert D. Campbell Training Center, 2825 Greensburg Road, Green. Jewell Cardwell can be reached at 330-996-3567 or emailed at jcardwell@thebeaconjournal.com.