Great-great grandmother celebrates 100th birthday in Griffin

GRIFFIN, Ga. - A north Georgia woman is celebrating a milestone birthday on Saturday. Tommie Ergle was born in Duluth in 1915 and turns 100-years-old on September 12!

Ergle moved to West End when she was a teenager and that's where she met her husband-to-be.

"When she went up to the cash register to buy her groceries, the gentleman behind the counter saw her for the first time and said 'that girl will be my wife one day.' Sure enough, they were married for 52 years until her husband passed away in 1983," said granddaughter Tracy Abel. 

Abel told FOX 5 News her grandparents spent most of their married life in LaGrange. That's where they built a home and were members of Long Cane Baptist Church. She lived alone in LaGrange until she was 98-years-old. 

"Her fondest memories over the last 100 years are being married and taking care of her family," said Abel. 

Ergle, also known as "Erg" to her grandkids, has three children, 12 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and 7 great-great-grandchildren. 

"She believes the key to a long life is living for God, working hard and eating healthy," Abel said. 

Ergle now lives at Brightmoor Senior Living in Griffin where she is much closer to her family. A birthday celebration will take place at the facility on Sunday at noon. 

According to her granddaughter, FOX News is Ergle's favorite channel--and we love that!

From all of us at FOX 5 News in Atlanta, Happy Birthday Tommie Ergle!