A Leadership Perimeter team celebrated community members who are 100 years old or older on March 19 at the Dorothy C. Benson Senior Multipurpose Complex in Sandy Springs.
“We were able to choose any community service project of our preference,” said Kate Allen, one of the Leadership Perimeter team members. “And we wanted to honor our seniors, and specifically this special group of centenarians in our community. So today’s event is truly dedicated to celebrating our seniors and recognizing those who have reached the incredible milestone of 100 years of age.”
Seven honorees attended the Celebrating Centenarians event, which was the Leadership Perimeter team’s impact project. Another soon-to-be 100 year-old was also recognized. Three other centenarians scheduled to be honored, including a 109-year-old, were unable to attend.
Leadership Perimeter is a program for current and aspiring community leaders in metro Atlanta, specifically in the Perimeter area, which includes Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, and Brookhaven. Leadership Perimeter graduates serve on nonprofits, city council, and leading local businesses. Participation helps them become more valuable members of their community and community champions, Allen said.
Other members of the Leadership Perimeter team included Sandy Springs City Council member Andy Bauman, Cecilia Guerra, Teyana Chaney, Wendy Turner, and Stacy Fialkow.
“For me, personally, at a time when there’s so much discord in the world, I wanted to bring people together for a sense of joy and celebration,” Fialkow said. “And there’s nothing that’s more meaningful than celebrating centenarians who’ve been through so much. It’s a sign of resilience that they have made it to this time.”
Turner said the celebration was meaningful to her because a number of her relatives have longevity, including her great aunt, who lived to 104.
“I watched her model just a high sense of engagement all through her life,” Turner said. “And so to see these folks active, being able to get here, being able to chat with us, It’s just very inspirational and wonderful. And I think that is probably the biggest thing I’ll take away from it, and I know that our group feels the same way.”
The centenarians who were celebrated included:
- Jean Bliss
- Alice Harris
- Dolores Peristein
- Alice Plunkett
- Genevieve Shiver
- Frank Stovall
- Geraldine Woodward
- Nancy Droege
- Peggy Cobb
- Betty Grant
- Jan Wilhite
