MOSSEL BAY NEWS - With her life deeply entrenched in Mossel Bay and parts of its history, Susan Kathleen Johnson celebrated her 100th birthday on Saturday 15 November.
A birthday celebration was held at her home in Santos Haven the day before with family members, friends, staff and management and Mossel Bay Municipality's Mayor Dirk Kotzé.
Seated in a large reclining chair in the Haven's community room, a table with gifts and cake next to her and large gold-coloured balloons behind her, Johnson was honoured in speeches made during the event while the guests sipped on tea, juice or coffee and enjoyed cupcakes.
Born in Zimbabwe in 1925, Susan attended Wits University where she graduated as a physiotherapist in 1947.
In 1949, she married her fiancé, Peter Gerard Whitcome Johnson, who had graduated as a dentist the year before, and the pair began their married life in Mossel Bay.
Susan and Peter Gerard Whitcome Johnson on their wedding day on 9 July 1949. Photo: Supplied
Her son, Johnny Johnson, said his father, Peter, took over his grandfather's - the original Johnny Johnson's - dental practice. For many years, Johnny Sr was the only dentist in town and the surrounding areas.
Johnny Jr said his parents were also among the first members of the Rotary Club of Mossel Bay, Peter becoming the club's second president and Susan heading up the Annes.
"Santos Haven is a Rotary initiative, so it is very special that she is now staying here, especially since she was one of the very first Rotarians in Mossel Bay," he said.
"My mum has always been a giver, and it is great to see people giving back to her."
Susan Kathleen Johnson in her younger years. Photo: Supplied
Susan and Peter went on to have three children, Cheryl, John and Paul. They moved to Klerksdorp in 1961 and lived there until Peter retired in 1978, when they moved back to the Mossel Bay area, settling in in Great Brak River.
Johnny Jr said his mother has been a resi-dent at Santos Haven for the last 20 years.
Susan, who is officially the oldest resi-dent there, told Mossel Bay Advertiser she does not feel old. She spoke about her love of gardening, the different gardens she had created over her many years on Earth, and her love of cooking, creativity and her family.
"She made every single garment I wore when I was growing up. She was such a good seamstress and a beautiful homemaker," said Cheryl.
Susan Johnson spent most of her life in Mossel Bay and was one of the town’s first Rotarians. Photo: Chelsea Pieterse
Paul said his mother was also a conservationist and did a lot of work when it came to saving the Great Brak River dunes in the 1980s and 90s.
"At my mum's 90th birthday celebrations, she thanked her children for keeping her interested and learning new things," said Johnny Jr.
And while she might be a little hard of hearing, Susan still reads books on philosophy and politics and knits blankets for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
"I think if one wants to age gracefully, one needs to keep on learning," she said.
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