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Chesterfield County honors 22 residents aged 100 and older, highlights oldest living honoree at 105
Summary
Chesterfield County recognized 11 new centenarians and 11 alumni at a county administration update, celebrated life stories and community contributions, and noted several recently deceased centenarians; no formal board actions were taken.
Chesterfield County honored local residents who have reached 100 years or older during a county administration update, recognizing 11 new centenarians and 11 alumni and reading tributes to those present and those who have recently passed.
Kim Graves, the county’s aging and disability services manager, opened the presentation and said the recognition reflects broader demographic trends: “According to global data from 2024, there are approximately 101,000 centenarians living in the United States today,” and “Right here in Chesterfield County, we are proud to have 104 centenarians.” Graves told the board the county was “privileged to recognize 11 new centenarians and 11 alumni for a total of 22 extraordinary individuals.”
The presentation named honorees and shared brief biographical notes and reasons the residents gave for long life — faith, family, community service, staying active and a positive attitude. Among those noted were Dorothy Bell (101), who credits “putting God first” and family; Jack Ford (99), identified as a World War II veteran and lifelong public servant; Rosa Ford (100), a Bon Air resident who supported Richmond schools for decades; and Maxine Warner (100), introduced as one of the first female firefighters in the area.
Graves also highlighted the program’s oldest honoree present, Maria Thomas, described as 105, and read a letter from her grandson praising her “kindness, strength, and unwavering love.” The county presented an in‑memoriam slide listing centenarians who had recently died, including Robert Brown (102), Sarah Harrison (104), Gladys Kelly (103) and William May (100).
Board members offered brief remarks of appreciation. An unidentified board member said, “You’re an inspiration to generations here in the county,” and the room responded with applause. Graves gave special thanks to Jackie Weisgerber of the Social Security Administration for supporting the program.
The recognition was ceremonial; the meeting did not include motions or votes related to the presentation. The board thanked the centenarians and their families and concluded the segment without formal action.
