Centenarian receives over 300 birthday wishes

Millie Mae Harrison recently celebrated a pair of 100th birthday celebrations, one for herself, and one for twin brother Pfc. Billy Ball, who died Sept. 28, 1942, in a prisoner of war camp.

Millie and Billy were the middle of six children. They were born March 8, 1922.

After she was told of his death, she held out hope he might still be alive. Then, she held out hope his body would be returned home — and it was, 76 years later. Harrison was 96 when her twin’s body came home for a funeral at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis.

Harrison had four children with only two daughters living, Carolyn, 78, and Bille, 73, who was named for Millie’s twin. She has 11 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, and six great-great-grandchildren.

The centenarian’s granddaughter Tammy Kassinger of Poplar Bluff is the director of the Northside Nutrition Center.

Kassinger shared her grandmother “enjoys going to church, gardening and sewing. She was a great seamstress. She loved clothes and was always shopping and matching outfits, of course. She made dresses for me all the time. I tell her I got my fashion style from her.”

Harrison continues to do the Lord’s work, Kassinger said, “always telling everyone of her Savior and inviting them to church, telling them the bus will pick them up and they can sit by her. I know grandma’s prayers have gotten all of us through life. What a blessing.”

Kassinger said, “I am blessed to have a granddaughter, it took 37 years.” She especially likes “the joy of seeing my granddaughter playing with my grandma.”

Oakdale Care Center staff, who wanted Harrison to receive at least 100 birthday cards on her special day, stopped counting when the number of cards got came close to 300.

The staff said, Harrison enjoys looking at her cards, as well as photographs taken at the party.