Marjorie Warner, former Jamestown resident, will turn 100 years old Friday, March 12. Warner now lives in Austin, Texas, but lived in the Jamestown and Lakewood area for 89 years. Submitted photo

To say Marjorie Warner has longevity in her genes is an understatement.

The former Jamestown resident, who lived along Willard Street in the city for more than 60 years, will turn 100 years old Friday, March 12. And Warner’s long life isn’t a surprise because her mother, Thyra, lived to be 102 and her grandmother lived to be 99.

“My mother is the type of person who really lights up a room whenever she goes in it. There is always a smile on her face and she always has a positive attitude. I think that is one of the reasons why she has lived as long as she has,” said Judy Parker, one of Marjorie’s three children. “I’ve always admired her view of life. Even when things don’t go as hoped, she remains positive.”

Marjorie’s positive outlook on life has always been important, but particularly during the last year with the COVID-19 pandemic and the death of a grandson, Casey, at 44 years old, from a heart attack.

“It’s funny how it works. How some people are given the ability to live a long, long time and others have had their life cut short,” Judy Parker said. “It’s been a tough year for her with the COVID virus and with my son passing away in August. That was really hard for her too because she loved him dearly. We’ve had a lot of trauma this year, but with her positivity, she has helped us live through it.”

Marjorie’s attitude of being happy all the time has led to some surprising encounters with people in public.

“Total strangers will just come up to her and ask for a hug just because she smiles at them,” Judy Parker said.

Marjorie babysat for 26 children while raising her own when she lived along Willard Street in Jamestown. She also worked for the Chautauqua County Board of Elections for 14 years, assisting people on Election Day.

“She was one of the ones who helped check in people when they came to vote,” Judy Parker said. “She was very proud of that fact.”

Prior to moving to Willard Street, Marjorie grew up in Lakewood along Lakecrest Avenue with her parents. At the age of 18, Marjorie married Richard Warner Sr. and moved to Willard Street. She was married for nearly 50 years before Warner died at the age of 70. Marjorie was 67 years old at the time.

“She surprised everybody after that. My dad was someone who did everything for her. I was worried that she would have a hard time, but she lived a happy life,” Judy Parker said.

After Judy Parker and her husband, Michael, retired 11 years ago, Marjorie moved to live with them in Austin, Texas. Judy Parker said that was a Godsend following her husbands traumatic brain injury.

“I was eating and watching TV alone. So it was a blessing for her to come down to have someone to watch TV and eat with. She has been a good companion for me. She has enriched my life, too,” she said.

Marjorie has five grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and four step-great-grandchildren. Chris Parker, Marjorie’s grandson, said the family wanted to have a big party to celebrate the century mark, but because of the pandemic, it will only be immediate family members.

“We’re still going to have a great celebration,” he said. “We’re going to have it at my wife’s lake house on Lake LBJ in Horseshoe Bay. There are a lot of similarities between Chautauqua Lake and Lake LBJ. It’s crazy.”

Chris Parker, who lives in San Antonio, said this will be the first time Marjorie has left her home in Austin since the pandemic started.

“It’s probably going to be the first time in five years she is going to spend the night somewhere else,” he said. “I try to go up every other weekend and we have window visits with my wife, daughter and I. We will have little talks, but the pandemic has certainly interfered.”

Chris Parker said Marjorie is truly the most generous and nice person he has ever met.

“I feel like wherever she goes, she wants to know people and people want to know her,” he said. “It doesn’t matter whether it’s when she lived in Jamestown or now in Austin.”

Marjorie said she’s had a great life.

“To reach this big milestone, I’ve had a wonderful life,” she said.

Marjorie said her most valuable possession is the great memories she has of her family and friends in Chautauqua County and in Texas.

“I never thought about reaching 100. I never thought I would make it to that and here I am,” she said. “I worked at the board of elections and enjoyed that very much. I babysat for so many children in Lakewood and Jamestown. That’s what kept me going. I just love children. I’ve had a really great life and I can’t complain.”