OPELIKA, Ala. (Sept. 23 2019) - The Harbor at Opelika celebrates residents Imogene Camp and Mary Jane Jaeger, both 100, on National Centenarian’s Day 2019.

National Centenarian’s Day is observed annually on September 22 to recognize and honor those who are 100 years of age or older. The day was originally proclaimed as an opportunity to listen to their life stories and learn from their wisdom. 

Camp, born on June 26, 1919, joined The Harbor at Opelika community in 2015; Jaeger, born on October 30, 1918, moved into The Harbor at Opelika last year. 

Camp says simple pleasures keep her feeling young.

“I like to get my hair done,” she says. 

Camp describes the best part of her day with one word: “chocolate.”

She and Woody, her husband of 60 years before he passed away in 2002, raised one son and one daughter. They have two grandsons and three great granddaughters. 

Camp, who worked in retail sales for “a long time,” played volleyball and other sports when she was younger. She likes gardening fruits and vegetables and doing needlework and other crafts. 

Jaeger, known for her beaming smiles, says she has always been a caregiver at heart. 

“I never really did anything for me. I have always taken care of everyone else,” she says. 

Jaeger, who is an avid reader of newspapers, magazines and mystery books, says she considers reading to be the biggest influence on her life.

“I love to read and I do a lot of it,” she says.

Jaeger loves to listen to music, especially Frank Sinatra and symphonies. She also likes gardening and working on puzzles.  

Jaeger graduated with a bachelor’s degree and served as a social worker for more than 30 years. She and her husband, Fred, have one son. 

Jaeger, who will turn 101 years old in just a few more weeks, insists her ready smiles are not a secret to her long life.

“No, I don’t think there is any secret. I just like to smile,” Jaeger said. 

“Mrs. Jaeger and Mrs. Camp are blessings we cherish at The Harbor, and we absolutely want to honor them on Centenarian’s Day,” says Kathy Otwell, executive director of The Harbor at Opelika.