Goldena Williams celebrates her 100th birthday, April 7

CRESCO - Goldena Williams, a resident at Accura HealthCare in Cresco, celebrated her 100th birthday Sunday, April 7.

A party took place in her honor at the VFW Hall in Cresco Saturday and was especially meaningful because she was able to share the day with her sister, Millie Anderlik of Cresco, who will celebrate her own birthday April 26.

Goldena Williams, a Howard County native, was born and raised on the family farm near Lime Springs to Hugh and Helena Williams.

She calls her brother Frank, who was nine years younger, her best friend.

“Frank and I had a lot of good times together,” Williams recalls. “He was a wonderful brother; he never scolded me. We worked on a farm for years and years and got along just fine.”

She recalls one of her fondest childhood memories:

“I grew up on the farm, but there was a different farm where they had a horse that always came over and put his head over the gate when he saw me, so I could come and pet him. I never forgot that.”

Williams said she finished the eighth grade and as she reached adulthood, helped people around Lime Springs with housework.

She moved to Accura in 2013. She received a handmade cross from Johnie Vobr and has collected a few others.

“Johnie was a real good friend to make those crosses for me,” she said.

Of her milestone, “My parents would be shocked if they knew I had lived to be 100,” she said.

What is Goldena Williams’ secret to a long life, well lived?

“I try to be honest and treat everybody like I’d like to be treated, she said.