SMITHVILLE – Margaret Morgan may not have been born in Smithville, but after calling the Chenango County township home for nine decades, it’s safe to say she is a native.
On Sunday, the eve of her 100th birthday, Morgan’s friends and family members gathered in the basement of the Smithville Center United Methodist Church to celebrate the milestone with the spry centenarian.
Morgan has been a parishioner of the historic church since her family settled on Robbins Road in Smithville when she was 10 years old. Ninety years later, she is still an active member of the congregation. In fact, she was nearly late to her own celebration, as she was upstairs counting the collection following the early morning service.
“Don’t try to help her down the stairs, she won’t let you,” said retired Methodist Minister Mary Ann Lender, wife of the church’s current pastor, as Morgan, dressed in a blue pantsuit, made her entrance.
Despite her advanced years, Morgan is fiercely independent. She still carries in her own firewood, shovels her own snow and rakes her own leaves, much to her nephews’ chagrin, according to longtime friend Bea Lobdell.
Many of her fellow parishioners attended her birthday party, including Terry Ives and his family, who travel from Guilford every Sunday to attend services at the small church.
“It’s great to have so many people join us this morning,” Ives said, as he welcomed guests. Among those in attendance were Morgan’s younger sister, Helen Hallenbeck, who recently celebrated her 95th birthday, her sister-in-laws Buddy Robbins and Frances Davis, and her nephews Jim and Bill Hallenbeck with their wives Janet and Alice.
Also helping mark the occasion were Village of Greene Mayor Marcia Miller and Rod Decker from Assemblyman Cliff Crouch’s office.
“Happy Birthday,” said Miller, as she presented Morgan with a proclamation from the Village of Greene and passed on birthday wishes from Senator Tom Libous.
“Margaret Morgan is defined by a simple modesty and a boundless energy that is amazing and inspiring,” said Rod Decker, who presented the “exceptional centenarian” with an New York State Assembly citation on behalf of Crouch.
“This beloved lady has enriched the lives of those around her and, through her joys and sorrows characteristic of and reserved for those with the stamina and courage to savor a full life, has inspired the lives of many friends and families,” Decker continued.
When asked her secret for long life, Morgan said it was clean living, a diet comprised more of vegetables than meat and lots of hard work.
“I never smoked a cigarette in my life,” she explained, nor touched alcoholic beverages.
Sitting next to her sister and surveying the crowd, Morgan wondered at the number of people who had attended her party.
“We have a lot of relatives and good friends,” she said.