Family, friends and residents and staff at The Terrace at Phoebe Allentown recently celebrated the 100th birthday of Mildred Lawfer Wilson.

Mildred, the daughter of the late Alfred and Katie Lawfer, was born Aug. 11, 1913.

The oldest member of Greenawalds United Church of Christ, she lived most of her life in that South Whitehall community.

A 1931 graduate of South Whitehall High School, she was the class valedictorian and president.

She was known as the "most popular class president," her granddaughter Amy Feaver emailed The Press. "She was the leading lady in her senior play.

"She was also the editor of the school newspaper 'The Trumpet.'"

Mildred also played "side-center" on the women's varsity basketball team.

Graduating from West Chester State College in 1933, Mildred's career was spent teaching first and second grades in what is now the Parkland School District for 32-1/2 years

Many of those years were spent in the Kratzer School.

She even attended class in the old Kratzer School located near the present building on Huckleberry Road.

Mildred starting teaching second grade in the Troxell building, and later moved on to the James W. Good School (now Cetronia Elementary).

Mildred and her husband, Bob, celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary in 2000 just before he died at age 91.

Bob was a physical education teacher and head basketball and baseball coach in South Whitehall.

During the summer after they met, Bob drove three teachers, including Mildred, to the Chicago World's Fair.

Her father's store, Lawfer's, was a country store, catering to the farmers around Greenawalds.

"He carried everything farmers and their wives would need," Mildred said, according to a Phoebe press release. "Even cloth and sewing needles.

"He would visit the surrounding farms in his horse and buggy in the first years, starting in 1909."

Mildred credits her long life to staying active and God.

When she was young, she stayed active playing tennis and working hard.

"When I have problems and I can't do anything about them, I take my problems to the Lord," she told The Press at her party. "He has been so good to me."

"I am so blessed and have three wonderful girls and I love them so much.

Her three daughters Kay Brady of Wilton Manor, Fla., Nancy Feaver of Allentown, and Peggy Beck of Ocean Park, Maine, along with about 35 other relatives helped Mildred celebrate her birthday with a private family celebration Aug. 10.

Mildred also has eight grandchildren: Chuck, Christopher and Kelly Brady, Emily Beck Walters, Sarah Beck Dellamo, Katie Wilson Clover, and Amy and Aaron Feaver and eight great-grandchildren Kiely, Brianna, Kerri, Ella and Hannah Brady, Meghan and Jacob Mendola and Zoe Clover.

Mildred, who moved to The Terrace five years ago, spends her time reading and playing bridge with friends.