Southfield woman celebrates 100th birthday

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. (WJBK) - A very special woman in Southfield celebrated a big milestone Tuesday.

Edna Leak turned100 years old today.

FOX 2: "How do you feel to be 100?"

"Oh, I feel pretty good," she said.

Lila Cabbil, Edna's daughter said that her mom has always had a generous nature.

"She took care of strangers from all over the country, she would serve them biscuits,” Lila said.

"All of the kids in the neighborhood would say 'what are you having for dinner?'" said Bertie Wilkinson, another of Edna's daughters. "We said biscuits and they would all want biscuits or cornbread."

And she's still doing something like that. Edna says she still cooks cakes and pies with her specialty being chocolate.

She was born in North Carolina but grew up in Detroit. Edna was married for 65 years and had 10 children. Five are living today.

Edna loves politics and has plenty of birthday honors. She has never missed a vote.

"Politics these days, they've got to get together," Edna said. "(They are) too separated and not doing anything."

Today, Edna lives with her daughter but she comes to PACE, a program designed to keep aging seniors in their own home. It is funded by Medicare and Medicaid.

"Edna comes into the center and she enjoys recreation," said Laurie Arora, PACE SE Michigan. "We feed her breakfast and lunch. We will see her in our clinic."

"What's your secret to living to be 100?"

"Stay off the liquor bottle and take care of your family," she said.