About 50 family members, friends, and city officials gathered at Alexandria City Hall on Tuesday, Sept. 9, to celebrate the city’s 13 centenarians during the annual recognition ceremony.
The event, held in the Vola Lawson Lobby, honored residents age 100 and older with personalized birthday displays, music from the Alexandria Citizens Band, and a decorated sheet cake reading “Celebrating Alexandria’s Centenarians!”
Mayor Alyia Gaskins opened the ceremony alongside Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley, Councilors Jacinta Greene and Canek Aguirre, and City Manager James Parajon. Four centenarians attended in person to receive their recognition.
“This is an event that is always filled with joy, smiles, singing, and I think we’ve even had some dancing in the past,” Gaskins said. “On behalf of the City Council, it’s really my honor to say to our centenarians, congratulations.”
Kate Garvey, director of the Department of Community and Human Services, emphasized the significance of the celebration for the city.
“One of the things that’s so powerful about Alexandria is our history, is our acknowledging both the most beautiful elements of our history and those things that give us pain,” Garvey said. “To hear from and to see the major accomplishments from the individuals who are here today, the things that they have seen, the changes that they have been part of in our city, it is remarkable.”
The four centenarians who attended received individual recognition, accompanied by detailed biographical presentations. Lois Madolyn Cross Brooks, 101, was born in Durham, North Carolina, in 1924 and moved to Alexandria when she was just one year old.
Brooks worked for the federal government before becoming a daycare provider after a serious illness. Many of the children she cared for still maintain contact with her today.
“She attributes her longevity to maintaining a healthy diet, starting her mornings with a cup of tea, and faithfully taking her cod liver oil vitamin each day,” Gaskins said during Brooks’ presentation. “Guided by a deep faith, Lois begins each day with prayer and finds her greatest happiness in spending time with her family.”
Stuart Cole McIntyre, 99, was born in Hollywood, California, in 1925 and experienced the financial hardships of the Great Depression. He served in World War II as a member of the 100th Infantry before pursuing higher education.
McIntyre earned degrees from Willamette University and Columbia University, later serving as a Foreign Service officer in Brussels and working at the State Department until the COVID-19 pandemic declassifying documents. He has three children and six grandsons.
“Stuart finds his greatest happiness in time spent with family, and his advice to younger generations is to invest wisely in real estate, avoid wasting money and travel as much as possible,” Gaskins said. “He attributes his longevity to living a disciplined life, free of smoking and drinking, maintaining a healthy diet, and keeping his mind active by reading the newspaper every day.”
Anne S. Rubenstein, 103, was born in 1922 and devoted her career to serving as a family marriage counselor. She raised two children and now has four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Rubenstein maintained an active lifestyle throughout her life, enjoying tennis, golf, hiking, painting, and traveling. Her advice to younger generations is simple: “Have a good time.”
“Ann attributes her remarkable longevity to a mix of spirit, staying active, good genes, and carrying herself gracefully into the second century,” Gaskins said.
Ann Samuel, 104, was born in 1920 and worked in the food industry with Marriott for 45 years. She grew up with four sisters and has been a devoted member of a Baptist church for nearly 70 years, holding the distinction of being the oldest member.
Samuel enjoys basketball, bowling, and reading, and finds her greatest joy in connection and fellowship with family and friends.
The ceremony included personalized birthday posters for each honoree featuring photos and space for guests to sign congratulatory messages. Attendees wrote “Happy Birthday” notes and expressions of gratitude throughout the event.
Nine additional centenarians were recognized but did not attend the ceremony: Donna Hamilton Shor, 101; Virginia Hoge, 101; Edward Finkelstein; Addie Lee Foster; Jose Croll; Ann Buxton; Mildred “Mickey” Yousso; and Ada Nelson, 104.
The mayor highlighted common themes from the centenarians’ life stories and advice.
“If you were listening closely to the advice from our centenarians, I think there were a couple of themes,” Gaskins said. “Probably the ones that resonated with us are that there is power in community and connection, whether it’s the family you were born with or the family you create.”
The celebration concluded with the Alexandria Citizens Band leading attendees in singing “Happy Birthday” to all the honorees. Guests were invited to stay for refreshments and to continue signing birthday cards.
The event represents a collaboration between multiple city organizations, including the Division of Aging and Adult Services, the Office of the Mayor, and the Successful Aging Committee.
Garvey praised the collaborative effort behind the annual celebration.
“One of the things that’s so powerful about Alexandria is the collaboration and the many wonderful organizations that come together to do things like this,” she said.
The ceremony transformed City Hall’s lobby into a community birthday party, celebrating not only the milestone ages but also the legacies of faith, service, and resilience that Alexandria’s centenarians represent.
