By Richard L. Gaw

Staff Writer

On Nov. 16, Toughkenamon resident Cecelia Julia Wright Rochester celebrated here 100th birthday. Three days later, her son Wendel came to the New Garden Township Building to take home a proclamation that honors her achievement.

Rochester was born in Chestertown, Md. on Nov. 16, 1919 and moved to Chester County in 1927, where she has been a Toughkenamon resident for the past 50 years. She married in 1942 and became a mother to 17 children, a grandmother to 27 grandchildren, a great grandmother to 30 great grandchildren and a great-great grandmother to 17 great-great grandchildren.

A woman of great faith, she has been a member of the Mt. Tabor African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in Avondale for the past 90 years. She is believed to be the oldest resident in New Garden Township.

To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email [email protected].