About 150 family members and friends roasted Mable Sedonia Myrick Riddick on Saturday, June 29 for her 90th birthday at Tabernacle Christian Church.

Riddick is still active at her church, Bethlehem Christian Church on Bute Street, where she is also the church’s mother and oldest member. She described the most important ingredients that have kept her active and looking well at 90:

&uot;You should honor your parents that your days may be longer on earth. That’s a promise and that is exactly what I did. You should also treat everyone like you would have them to treat you and whatever you do put God first,&uot; Riddick said.

Because she is still so active, looks 20 years younger, and walks without the aid of any walking device, Riddick is asked how she maintains such good health. She said,&uot; I don’t do anything extra; you are supposed to eat the right things and the right sort of foods, and remember, whatever you do, don’t put everything and anything in your stomach.&uot;

The worship leader for the program was Ann Wilson. Others on the program were the Rev. Emanuel Myrick, Edna Lewis, Kelly Lewis, Vivian Wood, Jean Manley, Tondra Collin, Minister Mervis Knight, Cornelia Hunter, Rev. Joseph Copeland, Mildred Riddick, Rev. Kenneth Daniels, and Elayne Myrick.

Wilson read a poem written by Benford Hunter, Shirley Johnson sang a solo, and Travis Parker played the organ.

Riddick was born to Ed and Hattie Myrick on June 29,1912, at 310 Lee St. At the age of six she moved to the Williamstown area in Suffolk where she still resides.

She attended the former Andrew J. Brown Elementary School and graduated from the former Booker T. Washington High School in 1927.

Further education led her to Franklinton College where she received three certificates in religious education; took courses in religious education at Britts Junior College in Enfield, N.C. and she also took courses in Bible at Paul D. Camp Community College, Suffolk Extension.

Riddick was married in 1935 to the late Robert Riddick. After working for 15 years as a tailor, she retired from Burke’s Tailor Shop and Young Men’s Shop.

She has been a member of Bethlehem UCC all of her life and was president of the Senior Choir for 10 years and the church clerk for 24 years.

At present she serves as the vice chairman of the Deaconess Ministry, is a member of the Senior Choir, Women’s Fellowship, is treasurer of the Pastor’s Aid, is a member of the United Black Christians, Eastern Va. Women of the Southern Conference, is treasurer of the United Church Women of Virginia Suffolk Branch, is the Mother of Bethlehem Christian Church, is the church’s historian, and is a member of the N.A.A.C.P-Suffolk Branch.

Riddick is the mother of Emanuel McCoy Myrick Sr., and is the grandmother of the Rev. Emanuel McCoy Myrick Jr., the pastor of Bethlehem. She also has 10 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; 12 great-great-grandchildren; one great-great-great-grandchild; two nephews; 11 great-nephews; five great-great-nephews; three nieces; 13 great-nieces; seven great-great-nieces three great-great-great-nieces, and many cousins and friends.

&uot;I really love being with all of my family and I will remember this day for the rest of my life,&uot; she said.