Long-time Forney resident Bernice Thomas celebrated her approaching birthday Sunday at Windsor Assisted Living Center in Terrell—and it was a special one.

Bernice turned 105 on Wednesday—and she’s still going strong.

On Sunday afternoon, relatives, close friends and other well-wishers gathered at Windsor to help Bernice celebrate her approaching milestone.

We asked Bernice what changes she had seen in the year that has passed since the Forney Messenger covered her 104th birthday celebration.

“No changes that I can think of,” she replied. “I’m hardly ever sick—not even a headache.”

Although she’s in a wheel chair, Bernice said she still pushes herself to the dining room at Windsor for meals.

“It’s good exercise,” she explained.

Bernice’s pastimes are simple ones. She “reads the paper,  mostly”, she said, adding that she doesn’t watch television.

Bernice was born in the year 1905 in Nacogdoches County, Texas into a large family that included two brothers and seven sisters. Of this brood, only one sibling besides Bernice is still living—Luta Thomas of Malakoff, who’s now in her early 90s.

Bernice had two daughters. One, Betty Jean Patten, died in June, 2009. Betty Jean is survived by her sister, LaVerne Cady.

On the occasion of her approaching 105th birthday, Bernice received many congratulatory letters from state and federal officials. One is from Don Willett, a former Forney resident and Eagle Scout  from Boy Scout Troop 339 who is now serving as a justice on the U. S. Supreme Court.

At one point during last Sunday’s celebration, Bernice made a casual comment about the punch she was drinking: “It gets better at the bottom,” she said.

Bernice’s life, richly lived, has probably gotten better with time, too.