Florence Matilda “Flossy” Hunt Kennedy was born March 5, 1913.

She's not only reached a milestone few live to see, but at 100 years old, she still lives alone in her home in Foley and tries to be as independent as possible, still cleaning her house, driving, planting a garden and even pruning a few of her bushes when she can. She also goes to Hardee's every Thursday morning with her friends to enjoy biscuits and gravy and attends church, plays and concerts.

Flossy said she doesn't ever ponder what it means to be 100 — she just is.

“I don't think much about it except when something wonderful happens to me that wouldn't happen otherwise, like receiving a birthday party,” Flossy said, referencing the party given to her by her fellow members at First Presbyterian Church of Foley March 3.

Flossy's fondest memories are of raising her two children, Tommy and Ann, and spending her life with her late husband, Tom, who passed away in 1987. The couple had been married for 50 years.

“He was so interesting,” Flossy said. “Everything we did was an adventure.”

The Kennedys traveled all over the world beginning in 1967. Flossy was a second grade teacher, so during her breaks from school, she and Tom took trips. She still wears a charm bracelet that is full of trinkets from around the world, and her walls are adorned with photographs from each place she and Tom visited.

They ventured to East Africa first because they thought it would be the most difficult trip, she said.

“We were newcomers to the traveling business,” Flossy said. “But it was just as easy as any other place and just so fascinating. It was unbelievable.”

Flossy and Tom also visited Morocco, South Africa, Mexico, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Japan, Spain, Germany and Hong Kong.

“The nicest thing happened to us in Germany. We left our group and decided we wanted to find a restaurant where no English was spoken or understood,” Flossy said. “We started out, and in about two blocks, we found this little restaurant. We went in, and it was the cleanest place we had ever been. There were long tables varnished to a nice shine.

“We sat down, and we noticed what the Germans next to us were eating. Pretty soon, a young man came and sat down at our table, and he ordered for us. It was just so nice. When we went to leave, everyone in the place said, 'auf Wiedersehen' (goodbye). It was the most touching thing. And they were our bitter enemies just a short time before.”

Flossy said traveling taught her there are good people all over the world.

“We just realized how wonderful the world is,” she said. “We saw a lot, but it's such a huge place, this beautiful earth.”

There are many more places Flossy would like to visit, but at 100, she said she can't travel alone.

“I'd still be doing it if I could take care of myself better, but right now I can't travel by myself,” she said.

Flossy grew up in Lockhaven, Pa. She attributes much of her personality and happiness to her childhood.

“We were a happy family,” she said. “Mother and daddy were wonderful. We'd sit around the table and just laugh and talk. I often think of that — I had such a happy childhood.”

Although she and Tom spent their working lives in New England, they decided to move south when they retired.

“We wintered down here before we were trying to decide where to retire,” she said. “We even tried New Mexico because we liked the West, but we missed the Gulf, so we retired here. I'm so glad we did. I love Northerners, of course, but they don't hug you as southerners do.”

Flossy's friend Joyce Kiskadden, who lives nearby, said Flossy is one of the most compassionate, kind people she's ever met.

“Flossy's always been an optimistic person, and she's very concerned about other people,” Kiskadden said. “She's a lovely lady. The neighborhood loves her.”

Flossy said she doesn't have much profound advice for people. However, the simplicity and gratitude with which she lives her life is profound in itself.

“Just be as kind as you can to people,” she said. “I'm thankful for every day, and I say a little prayer about that. I should be thankful at my age — every additional year is unbelievable.”