James celebrates 100 years
Published 10:19 pm Wednesday, April 1, 2015
For Mary Louise James, the secret to living a good long life seems to be rooted in her family history.
Her mother lived past age 100. So did one of her four siblings. On Saturday, she too received her membership card in the centenarian club.
Mary Louise James celebrated her 100th birthday on Saturday. She is pictured in her daughter’s home Tuesday with balloons and roses she received.
“I just thank the Lord for being here,” she said. “I eat real good, and I exercise every day.”
Her granddaughter Della Wright affirmed those statements.
“She walks up and down the hall and eats vegetables every day,” Wright said.
James is from Burgaw, N.C., and lives in Suffolk now with her daughter and Wright. She celebrated her birthday with a party on Sunday, with about 80 people in attendance.
Her first husband was James Simpson, and she was later married to Dexter James.
James has one daughter and two sons, in addition to nine grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.
Her 82-year-old nephew told her he also wants to live to be 100, James said.
James said she loves children and loves to read and sing, which she still does. She sang in the choir at her home church, Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church in Burgaw. Here in Suffolk, she attends Tabernacle Christian Church.
James said she missing cooking, which she’s not able to do anymore.
“She was a good cook,” Wright said. “I think we all learned how to cook from her.”
