ST. MATTHEWS – Surrounded by family and friends, Calhoun Convalescent Center resident Ethel Blondell Waymer Williams celebrated her 109th birthday on Sept. 22.

Williams was honored with a chorus of “Happy Birthday” and treated to a generous helping of ice cream and cake.

Born on Sept. 28, 1897 in the Providence community, Williams moved to Elloree at an early age, where she resided until moving to the St. Matthews convalescent center in 2000.

From her marriage to Marion Robert Williams, she had eight children. Three of them, Robert Lee II, Marion McQueen and Richard Allen, are deceased. Her living children are Geneva Williams Wilhoite, Orangeburg; Vivian Williams Moses, Elloree; Howard Williams, Virginia Beach, Va.; Carl Williams, New York and Samuel Williams, Elloree. Her one living sister is 104-year-old Marie Waymer Wilborne of Elloree. Williams has 17 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.

When asked of his thoughts on the woman who has lived in three different centuries, Williams’ nephew Frank Staley of Orangeburg said, “The genes seem to run with the ladies and not with the men.”

The big family of has more than 500 members, Staley said.

When Williams entered the convalescent home at age 103, she was still an active member of Shiloh AME Church and was still active in community affairs. Today, she still enjoys light reading, family members say.

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