LANETT — A large crowd of friends and family was present for a special birthday party Friday afternoon at Diversicare of Lanett. Odessa Monagan celebrated her 100th birthday. Joining her were her daughter and son-in-law, Bobbie M. and Bobby Reid, son Johnny Monagan, grandson Ben Bryant, nieces Dorothy Monagan and Brenda Stevens and cousin Dessi Dozier.

Lanett Council Member Tony Malone was there to present a proclamation.

“I’ve known her for as long as I can remember,” Malone said. “She a very, very good lady who loves her community very much. For 20 years, she was my secretary for the Chambers County-Valley Branch of the NAACP. I am so happy to be here today and celebrate this very special day with her.”

Monagan is the third Diversicare resident to celebrate a 100th birthday within the last year. “People are living longer now,” said Activities Director Melinda Joseph. “Mary Smedley had her 100th birthday back in May, and Reba Langford had hers on Oct. 31. All three of them are doing great. They are very active in group events and are easy to communicate with.”

Monagan was born in the Langdale community on Feb. 1, 1919. She’s lived in Chambers County her entire life and was married to the late Bobby L. Monagan. They had four children, Bobbie, Marian, Oscar and Johnny. Monagan is a long-time member of the Rehoboth Missionary Baptist Church in Valley, where she served as president of the senior choir and secretary of Sunday school. Her hobbies included quilting and gardening. Some of her quilts are on display in her room at Diversicare. She donated some of her quilts to Auburn University.

“Be it resolved,” reads the proclamation, “that the Lanett City Council with great pleasure hereby expresses well wishes on this milestone centennial birthday to Mrs. Odessa Monagan. May God continue to bless you and your family. Now, therefore, I, Kyle McCoy, mayor of the City of Lanett, Alabama do hereby name Friday, Feb. 1, 2019 ‘Mrs. Odessa Monagan Day’ in the City of Lanett.”

Mrs. Monagan smiled and waved as the crowd sang “Happy Birthday to You” ending with “May the Good Lord bless you.”

“The Good Lord has blessed me,” she told everyone, “and I pray he blesses you, too.”