She’s 105 years young

still alive; and the Boy Scouts of America had just been founded.
The only flight taken together by Wilbur and Orville Wright occurred at Huffman Prairie Flying Field in Dayton, Ohio, and Thomas Edison introduced his kinetophone, which would later make talking movies possible. That same year, the world would get its first photograph of Halley’s Comet.
Cobbs has lived to have seen 17 presidents, one of whom – Barack Obama – sent greetings to her back in 2011 when Jersey City Council named her as Woman of Action.
Cobbs celebrated a major milestone, her 105th birthday, last week with family, friends, fellow residents and staff at Alaris Health at HarborView where she resides.
Well known for her an extensive collection of hats and scarves in all colors, shapes and sizes, Cobbs always color coordinates her entire ensemble.
A former resident Danforth Avenue in the Greenville section of Jersey City, Cobbs has lived at HarborView for the past few years as a long-term care resident. Even at age 105, Cobbs remains passionate about dancing, her weekly bingo games, and attending church services.

_____________
“Always take care of yourself.” — Willie Mae Cobbs
____________
Born in Bowman, S.C. and educated in the Bowman public school system, Cobbs attended Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Bowman. She grew up working on the family farm with 13 siblings. When she turned 21, she moved with her sister to Washington, D.C. but only stayed there for a few months before relocating to Jersey City where she went to work in the laundry industry. She became a founding member of Ocean Avenue Baptist Church.
A member of the gospel chorus, Cobbs had served as an usher since the formation of the church more than 66 years ago. She is the only surviving charter member of the church.
For three decades, Cobbs served as a volunteer for the Senior Companions Program at the church. She said she enjoyed visiting the sick and shut-in seniors, most of whom were her junior. She retired in 2006 at the young age of 96.
Cobbs was also an active matriarch of the Jones Family Reunion-New Jersey Chapter and is one of the founding coordinators.
She married the late Herman Cobbs in 1936, and is the mother of Mary Ann Hill and grandmother of Staci Monica Hill, the great grandmother of Brandon, James, Jared and Jordan and the great-great grandmother of Micah.
She says her key to aging well is to “always take care of yourself,” she said.
“Ms. Cobbs has been a source of inspiration for our staff and fellow residents since she arrived at our facility years ago. Her positive attitude and passion for life are contagious and we’re thrilled to celebrate this milestone birthday with her,” said Kevin Woodard, the Administrator for Alaris Health at HarborView. “There was never a doubt that we would celebrate her 105th birthday with a special ceremony.”

Al Sullivan may be reached at asullivan@hudsonreporter.com.