Local celebrates century of life

SARALAND, Ala. (WALA) - It’s a milestone many strive for but few reach: celebrating a 100th birthday.

Gracie Lee Free is making history in her family. She is turning 100 years old on Tuesday. Her family celebrated her birthday with a party at the Saraland Civic Center Sunday afternoon.

Her loved ones said reaching a century of life is a blessing to all who have encountered Free and grown to know her over the years.

Family members said Free loves to tell stories.

Her nephew, Robert Sellers, said he would come home from school, sit with her and listen. She would tell stories of her childhood and pass on wisdom from the life lessons she acquired over the years.

Now, Sellers has taken on the role of storyteller. At the birthday celebration on Sept. 30, he shared some of his fondest memories by recalling the times they would spend together and speaking about her cooking.

“She was a great cook and she made what she called a pound cake and I bet that thing weighed 10 pounds because the butter and the sugar ran,” Sellers said. 

Others recalled stories of her taking a horse drawn wagon to her family’s house and getting stuck on the way.

“It wouldn’t go across the bridge but it went down into the creek and got stuck. I'll always remember that,” said Free’s granddaughter, Sissy Jordan.

Free’s oldest daughter said it’s an honor to have a mother who has lived to be 100 years old. She said Free has “always obeyed God [and] put God first” and believes that’s why she has lived to celebrate a century of life.

“We’re just so proud of her. She is truly the jewel of our family,” she said.