Elsie Clemons walked into the common area at The Retreat Senior Living Community on Saturday thinking she was about to play BINGO. Instead, three dozen residents and volunteers shouted “SURPRISE!” for her 104th birthday.
- The celebration was organized by the Top Ladies of Distinction Emerald Coast Chapter and Teresa Harris, community engagement director at The Retreat. Cupcakes arranged in the number 104, food and drinks filled the tables, and the group sang several songs including “Happy Birthday.”
The Top Ladies of Distinction includes enriching the lives of senior citizens through planned events as part of their community mission, making Saturday’s celebration one of their ongoing initiatives.
Clemons, originally from Oxford, Mississippi, has lived at The Retreat for three years. She spent her working life in Montgomery as a librarian with the state.
At 104, Clemons maintains her independence. She was still driving when she turned 100 and said she would still be driving if she had a car. Her daily routine includes getting up and dressing herself, fixing her own breakfast and tracking her investment portfolio.
- Her family joined the celebration, including her daughter Joan and son-in-law Taber Tompkins, who live in Milligan, just north of Fort Walton Beach.
The Retreat at Fort Walton Beach, formerly Bay Port, is located at the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Memorial Parkway. The Phoenix Senior Living community currently houses 96 residents across 122 rooms, offering both assisted living and memory care services.
