Francis Urquart looked up from her rocking chair where she sat reading the newspaper, surprised when she was told what Saturday was.

Saturday marked Urquart’s 100th birthday. For Urquart, this meant having her relatives come in from Montgomery

Between 40 to 50 family members and friends ended up coming to Urquart’s party, with a shower of presents and various other items including a basket of chocolate bars with wrappers that commenmorated the birthday celebration.

Urquart was born in Selma, but lived in different areas of the country. She is not sure what her father did for a living, saying that he never discussed it with his family. But, she remembers the way she traveled.

As an adult she worked in Buffalo, N.Y., but always returned to her roots when she could.

The petite woman with curly white hair doesn’t look or act her age. She sits in her rocking chair and reads the newspaper every day, reading from the articles to whoever is in the room with a clear, strong voice.

Margie Bowden, who is an administrative assistant and nurse at Homewood, the assisted living facility where Urquart lives, said that she has been living there since March 1997.