Sunday will mark a new year, but Thursday marked 110 years for a Baltimore resident.Clarice Patterson has lived in her west Baltimore home for 73 years, and although she's not as verbal as she used to be, she's just as feisty－and more loved than ever before. Patterson enjoyed a birthday party with her great-grandchildren and grandchildren.It's a rare occasion few get to see, as the life expectancy in the U.S. in 2020 was 77－33 years less than Patterson.When Patterson was growing up, eggs cost around 33 cents and the average yearly income was $750. It was a time when family and hard work meant everything."She walked us to school every day and then walked back and picked us up at school. She would volunteer at the school. She was definitely feisty, and she was definitely the person who would get you in line," granddaughter Helena Johnson said with a laugh.Patterson was born at Johns Hopkins Hospital. She graduated from Frederick Douglass High School and Morgan State University, earning a degree in business. She worked for Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks as a director of the Cahill Rec Center until she retired in 1983.Patterson and her late husband have three children, three granddaughters and a handful of great-grandchildren.And, while this matriarch has been holding things down for a long time, things weren't always easy."She would tell us about, like, how growing up, with her skin complexion, she couldn't go into certain stores, and her grandmother, she would have to sit outside and wait for her grandmother to finish in the store," Johnson said.Patterson was diagnosed with dementia 10 years ago at the age of 100, but one couldn't tell by her dance moves at her 105th birthday celebration.Now, she relaxes in her chair and does some leg exercises with her family on standby, bringing her cookies and tea, ready to continue to love and celebrate her life.Johnson shared what the family said is Patterson's secret to longevity: "She used to say, 'Not drinking and eating healthy.'"Watch the video above for the full story.
Sunday will mark a new year, but Thursday marked 110 years for a Baltimore resident.
Clarice Patterson has lived in her west Baltimore home for 73 years, and although she's not as verbal as she used to be, she's just as feisty－and more loved than ever before.
Patterson enjoyed a birthday party with her great-grandchildren and grandchildren.
It's a rare occasion few get to see, as the life expectancy in the U.S. in 2020 was 77－33 years less than Patterson.
When Patterson was growing up, eggs cost around 33 cents and the average yearly income was $750. It was a time when family and hard work meant everything.
"She walked us to school every day and then walked back and picked us up at school. She would volunteer at the school. She was definitely feisty, and she was definitely the person who would get you in line," granddaughter Helena Johnson said with a laugh.
Patterson was born at Johns Hopkins Hospital. She graduated from Frederick Douglass High School and Morgan State University, earning a degree in business. She worked for Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks as a director of the Cahill Rec Center until she retired in 1983.
Patterson and her late husband have three children, three granddaughters and a handful of great-grandchildren.
And, while this matriarch has been holding things down for a long time, things weren't always easy.
"She would tell us about, like, how growing up, with her skin complexion, she couldn't go into certain stores, and her grandmother, she would have to sit outside and wait for her grandmother to finish in the store," Johnson said.
Patterson was diagnosed with dementia 10 years ago at the age of 100, but one couldn't tell by her dance moves at her 105th birthday celebration.
Now, she relaxes in her chair and does some leg exercises with her family on standby, bringing her cookies and tea, ready to continue to love and celebrate her life.
Johnson shared what the family said is Patterson's secret to longevity: "She used to say, 'Not drinking and eating healthy.'"
Watch the video above for the full story.
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