Susanna Cutchin of Enfield celebrated her 105th birthday on March 3, 2008, with a visit from many of her grand-, great-grand -and great-great-grandchildren locally and from Virginia.

Susanna was born in Edgecombe County. She was reared by her uncle Wade Allen. She received her education in Edgecombe County. She married the late Henry Cutchin at an early age. They were married for 73 years. They had nine children. Five are living; Bertha Basemore and Susanna Davis of Whitakers, Edna Peterson of Enfield, Cleveland and Douglas Cutchin of Halifax; four are deceased; Wade, Henry Jr., Harry and Charles Cutchin.

Contributed photo (ENLARGE)

Susanna Cutchin of Enfield celebrated her 105th birthday on March 3, 2008. Contributed photo

She has sixty grandchildren, 135 great-grandchildren and 147 great-great-grandchildren.

Susanna and Henry reared their children in Edgecombe, Nash and Halifax counties. When they retired from farming in the 1960s, they moved to Newport News, Va. They lived there until 1982 when they moved back home to North Carolina. Whenever Susanna was asked about her health, like why she has never had high blood pressure or her long life, she would always say, "I mind my business and let everybody else mind theirs." However, she loves to talk. She loves people and was always interested in them. In fact, one of the things her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren miss about her now is that she doesn't talk the way she use to talk.

Susanna is a very religious person. She would read her Bible every day when she could see well. She used to love to travel and loves to fish. Until 2000 when she was confined to the bed, she did all of her cooking, which she used to love to do. She made the best biscuits you could ever taste. Some of her favorite foods were fried chicken, collard green, corn bread and baked sweet potatoes. The only soda she will drink is 7UP. She likes to have it every morning before anything else. She has been drinking it for over 50 years.

Her children call her "Ma" and the grandchildren "Grandma." We love you.