Grace Cody joined Patrick Cody and daughter-in-law Annette Emery during a peaceful demonstration commemorating the 109th anniversary of a woman’s right to vote in California in October 2020.
BY TRACY CHATTERS
THE NATOMAS BUZZ | @natomasbuzz
The first time Sacramento-area resident Grace Angela Cody, 100, voted was in 1940.
And she’s never missed an election since.
Cody said voting is important to her “so the right guy gets elected.”
At age 98, Cody moved to Natomas to live with her son Patrick Cody and daughter-in-law Annette Emery who are active in the community. In addition to getting out the vote, Cody has participated in the annual Natomas Holiday Tree Lighting event and Gardenland Northgate Neighborhood Association holiday dinner, where Patrick Cody plays Santa Claus, and she plays the role of Santa’s mom.
Cody still remembers her first election and voting for President Franklin D. Roosevelt. She believes FDR, the nation’s 32nd president, was the “best president ever.”
“(California) Gov. Pat Brown was the best governor California has ever had and I remember watching the swearing in ceremony on television,” said Cody, who also liked Brown’s son two-time Gov. Jerry Brown, but thinks his portrait in the state capitol is an embarrassment.
Cody wasn’t a fan of President Ronald Reagan, the 40th president, who also served as California’s governor from 1967 to 1975. Cody said everyone believed Reagan because he was an actor, but she didn’t think he was a very good one.
Cody voted early this year, her 21st election, after discussing the ballot issues with her family.
“I wanted to make sure I got my ballot in on time and did not miss this election,” she said.
