Modesto woman has 100-plus reasons to celebrate

Gladys Hersey may not know the exact secret to a long and happy life.

But she certainly has some suggestions. The Modesto resident celebrated her 100th birthday among more than 100 family, friends, former classmates and students, and more Saturday afternoon. The retired teacher has lived in the region for more than a decade and credits a couple of possible practices for her longevity.

“I don’t know if this has anything to do with it, but I’ve always been a vegetarian since I was 6 or 7 or so,” said Hersey, whose birthday was actually Monday. “I’ve also walked a lot.”

Hersey, who has three surviving siblings who range in age from 85 to 98, happily greeted all her guests. Now legally blind from macular degeneration, she remains alert and accepted hugs and handshakes throughout the day.

More than 200 people – traveling from five states – were expected to wish her well before her party was over at Modesto’s Trinity United Presbyterian Church. Among the well-wishers was a special ValenGram from a Golden Valley Chorus barbershop quartet. For one of the numbers, one of Hersey’s great-grandchildren, 25-year-old T.J. Hardy of Modesto, popped in to sing baritone as a surprise for his great-grandmother.

Hersey’s granddaughter, Modesto resident Kathy Hardy, began organizing her 100th birthday party as soon as her 99th ended last year. Among the guests were some of her former first-grade students from what was then called Alvarado, now a part of Union City. Hersey taught first grade for 30 years before retiring, then volunteered in a second-grade class for 25 years more.

“She was so nice, I remember,” said Joella Rose Thompson, who still lives in Union City. “To have someone who was part of your life make it to 100 so gracefully, naturally we wanted to be here to let her know we remembered her and cared.”

Thompson came with three other Alvarado School classmates. Also in attendance was Hersey’s college roommate from her time at Humboldt State University, Irene Smith. The 96-year-old Smith, who now lives in Rocklin, north of Sacramento, said the two have stayed in touch over the years. They have exchanged Christmas cards and talked on the phone, though the last time they saw each other in person was about five years ago.

“She wanted me to come to this badly, and so did I,” Smith said. “She was always fun. And she was a fine Christian. That always impressed me; we had the Lord as a common factor.”

Indeed, Hersey still goes to Bible study and other church events. It was a fact her family admired and poked loving fun at during her celebration.

“She is one of the most godly women I know,” Kathy Hardy said to the crowd. “And there’s something she has in common with God – they’re both really old.”

This story was originally published February 13, 2016 at 6:19 PM with the headline "Modesto woman has 100-plus reasons to celebrate."