Family comes from all around to celebrate Gulfport resident’s 100th birthday
Gulfport, Miss. (WXXV)- “Happy birthday!”
Delores Stanley turned 100 years old on April 19th, family from all over the country coming to surprise her.
Residents and friends at Summerfield Senior Living taking part in the festivities as well.
“It’s fantastic, it’s so fun to have everyone here. Our family kind of spreads all over several states so for everyone to meet together and celebrate, it’s fun,” said Brandi Smith, Delores’ granddaughter. “We love family, we’re all about family. To have it here with all her friends makes it all that much better.”
Four generations of the family came to the senior living home, coming from Kentucky, Alabama, and across the Mississippi coast.
Michael Williams says it almost took half a day to drive from Kentucky.
“It takes 11 hours, I drove down yesterday. It feels great, made the trip worthwhile.”
The family shared some of their favorite memories of Delores with WXXV.
“She helped me take care of Aubrey here when she was just a little infant and just seeing her being there for her,” said Brandi. “Guiding me through motherhood, I feel those are some of the most cherished memories I have.”
“I use to drive her crazy running around the house. She would make me go outside and play. I’d come back in and she’d kick me back out because I was so rambunctious as a kid. Just the memories of being able to go visit her,” said Gregory Stanley, Delores’ grandson.
“We went on vacations. She was always making sure we had fun. Really all my life is amazing with her,” said Sherry Stanley, Delores’ daughter.
Delores herself sharing one memory of her time in Hawaii. She was living at Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked in 1941.
She was a high school student at the time. She made her way across the nation before settling on the Gulf Coast.
When it came time to blow out the candles on her cake, WXXV asked her what her wish was.
“I don’t know, my wish was to make 100 and I’ve done that. I have to find something else now.”
