Ada, a resident of Lockerbie’s Park Lea Residential Home, reached the momentous milestone age last Wednesday and celebrated with a party.
The birthday girl also continued her celebrations later into the week with family members coming from around the UK.
Ada who was born in Salford, Greater Manchester in 1916 is a mother of three, grandmother of five and great-grandmother to seven.
Having worked as a parachute packer during WWII, Ada met her husband Albert Thomas Brooks and the couple wed in 1946 in Manchester.
And foreign travel opportunities came a knocking for the family in 1968 when they moved to Atlanta, Georgia, USA, for Albert’s work in the aeroplane industry.
The couple stayed Stateside until 1981, with several of their children choosing to stay in the US. A delighted Ada was pleasantly surprised to receive birthday good wishes from both Queen Elizabeth II and President Obama and his wife Michelle, despite not living in the country for over 30 years.
Speaking about his mum turning 100, son Peter Brooks said: “I really can’t hazard a guess as to her secret for a long and happy life. “It might just be down to good genetics. She still enjoys a glass of wine, so maybe it’s just having everything in moderation?”
He added: “She still is tremendously independent; she still goes to the shop by herself to pay her paper and enjoys an independent life.”
Ada has been a resident at Park Lea since 2000, moving to Lockerbie to be near her son. And the fit centenarian is also currently the oldest resident in any of Abbeyfield Scotland’s, owners of Park Lea, 17 supported care houses.
