Decatur woman celebrating her 110th birthday
DECATUR, Ga. - A Decatur woman is celebrating a rare milestone Sunday, her 110th birthday.
Willie Mae Hardy was born in Junction City, Georgia on March 11, 1908. Growing up, she worked on a farm and in the cotton fields while also looking after her six younger siblings. While she was removed from school at an early age, Hardy valued an education and learned how to read and write.
She moved to Atlanta in 1939 after the birth of her daughter. It was here that she found the love her life, Frank Harvey, and discovered a community in the Butler Street Baptist Church, where she is the oldest member, having served for more than 71 years in various capacities.
In 1966, Hardy moved to Decatur to help raise her grandchildren following the sudden death of her son-in-law to cancer. She's lived in Decatur ever since, watching over her growing family and working as a housekeeper for over 60 years before retiring in the 1980s.
Willie Mae is famous in her family for her Sunday dinners where all the generations of grandchildren would gather to eat together.
She loves pastel colors, listening to gospel music, watching inspirational shows and spending time with family.
Her favorite TV shows include Tyler Perry’s “Meet the Browns “ and “House of Payne” and “The Andy Griffith Show.” Her favorite movie of all time is "The Help."
Hardy has lived to see six generations of children grow up in her family. She has one daughter (and roommate of over 61 years), seven grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, 30 great-great-grandchildren and four great-great-great-grandchildren.
Everyone here at FOX 5 wishes Mrs. Willie Mae Hardy the best on her special day!