Video: Celebrating 100 Years Of Life

ABERDEEN, Miss. (WCBI)- It’s not everyday that someone lives long enough to reach the century mark, but on Saturday, one North Mississippi resident, Lucille Rowland,  will reach that milestone

“It feels great. It’s a surprise to me as it is to everybody else,” Rowland said, who turns 100 on Saturday.

When asked how has the past 100 years been for her, Rowland said one word comes to mind.

“Fabulous,” she said.

Rowland grew up in West Point, where she worked as a cashier at a local book store.

She said the world has changed tremendously from back then to now, in particular, she said people were more caring for another back in the day.

“If someone didn’t have something, we always provided help,” Rowland said. “Me my mom and my daddy, after we’d finish eating supper at night, we would put all of our left-overs in bowls and go out and give them to other families who didn’t have food to eat.”

Rowland has lived to see the invention of the first car, the first television, and has seen 17 presidents serve her country. But even in the midst of witnessing all of that, there’s one key moment in her lifetime that stands out to her the most, World War II.

Rowland’s Husband fought in the war.

“He was in the airborne, and when they went in with 550 men, they came out with 128 and he was one of the 138,” she said.

Rowland grew up with one sister and had two children once she got married.

When asked what was her secret to living such a long and vibrant life Rowland’s answer was simple.

“Just keep living one day at a time, we’re given one day at a time,” she said.
Rowland will officially turn 100 years old on Saturday. Family and friends are throwing a party for her tomorrow at First Methodist Church from 2PM to 5 PM. They welcome anyone to come out and help them celebrate Rowland’s big day.