A huge celebration was held at the Cressey Road Methodist Church catered by At Your Table to celebrate the Valentine’s Day 100^th birthday of Virginia Thompson Williams of Gorham Maine.    Relatives flew in to be with her on this exceptional occasion from California, Florida, Oklahoma, Virginia, Nevada and Alaska to name a few. Around 150 attended the party. Many accolades were given by, her granddaughter, Terri Dawson, of Gorham, Mo Terry, our State Representative, and Rick Hawkes from our church.  Terri also presented a wonderful slide show of Virginia’s life.

Virginia was born in Cornish, Maine, in 1920, the year that Women won the right to vote!  She has led an amazing life.  Virginia put herself through high school renting a room and working to support herself since her family of 13 plus parents couldn’t afford to help her.  She is the sole surviving member of her immediate family.  Virginia was married to Lawrence Thompson of Cornish and Perry Williams of Turin, New York.  She was widowed twice and has two children, Gerry Day of Gorham and Larry Thompson and his wife, Claire, of Gorham. She has 7 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren, (all grand and great grand attended her party).  After working for 19 years as a Cornish Telephone Operator, when her daughter, Gerry, and her husband, Tom, along with son, Larry, went to University of Southern Maine (USM), she joined them.  She graduated from USM in three years and taught in SAD #6 for 14 years.  After her first husband passed away, she went on a cruise with her daughter where she met her second husband, Perry.  They skied the Matterhorn (she learned to ski at 66) and went on safari in Africa.  They also sailed down the Nile and visited the famous tombs of Egypt.  Each year, they also spent time in Cayman Islands and Aruba.  Their summer home was in the Adirondacks where they swam every morning at 7 in the cold waters of that region, no matter what the weather! 

Virginia attributes her longevity to healthy living, to self-imposed routines and to staying active.  She keeps busy, bowling, bingo, luncheons, driving her own car, shopping, housework and traveling.   She does not linger in bed or sit around, rather she is active all of the time. She is a member of the Gorham Health Council, Lakes Region Senior Center and the Cressey Road Methodist Church. At 100, Virginia Williams simply enjoys life!