Tears shined in centenarian Luella Roady's eyes as her church congregation gave her a standing ovation in honor of her birthday.
Chisholm Heights Baptist Church members welcomed Roady with hugs as they marked her 100th birthday as part of their Thanksgiving celebration. She was a member of the church for almost 40 years before moving recently to the Dallas area to be closer to family.
“It's a church that has brought heart to a lot of people especially an old lady,” Roady said. “It is a wonderful place.”
Roady was born Nov. 19, 1910, in Crescent. She married her first husband Carl Skaggs in 1928 and moved around with him as he worked in construction. Skaggs died in 1943.
She married Bob Roady in 1945 and lived in Oklahoma City until his death in 1971. Luella Roady said she started attending Chisholm Heights around that time and moved to Mustang in 1972.
“I just wanted a small town,” she said. “I always said when I got old, I didn't want to live in Oklahoma City.”
Roady also tried her hand at retirement but found she wasn't ready yet. Her co-workers at Nichols Seed begged her to come back, and she did. Roady worked until she was 78.
She was also an active volunteer for a Bethany hospital and a familiar face around her church. Roady taught Sunday School, led a prayer circle and spearheaded the church's food pantry.
“Just things I was supposed to do,” she said.
In a video thanking Roady for her service, church members said they wish she was still at Chisholm Heights working the pantry because she took care of it with skill and dedication. Roady said the church congregation was always supportive and eager to help those in need.
“People were real good to bring food,” she said. “I never really had an empty food pantry, never did.”
Roady was also active with Chisholm's GEMS senior citizens group. Pastor Dave Bryan said he first got to know Roady on one of the GEMS trips. He sat with her on the bus, and they had a long conversation.
“I found out what a treasure it was to be your pastor,” he said.
Roady's family thanked the church and her friends for looking out for her for so many years. Her niece Pat Thompson said they made it possible for Roady to live independently until last April. She said it was really tough to convince her aunt to move because she considers Mustang to be her home.
“This was a very important part of her life,” Thompson said.
As old friends took time to shake Roady's hand, hug her and give her their birthday wishes, she apologized for not writing as often as she should. A friend laughed and told her she is just happy to see her.
During the service, Ervin Mitchell and Don Fink presented her with commendations from the Oklahoma governor and lieutenant governor that they had sought. A look of surprise passed across Roady's face as she hugged them.
Then, Betty Edinburgh and Joleta Tilly presented her with a pink floral quilt handsewn by members of the church's quilting ministry especially for her. Pastor David Baker led the congregation in singing “Happy Birthday” to her.
Before the service started, Roady said, “They are being overly nice to me.”
Bryan said that the church congregation is appreciative of all Roady has done for them and the community. He said they are proud of her.
“Well done, good faithful servant,” he said.