January 20, 2017 (Florence, SC) ─ Mindfulness, family and faith have helped Ms. Evadne O’Neal arrive upon the celebration of her 100^th birthday! Born January 20, 1917 in Olanta, Evadne has lived at Pee Dee Gardens, a DePaul Senior Living Community in Florence, since 2014.

“I wondered if I’d make it to 100,” Evande said, “but I never expected anything but to live one day at a time.”

Evadne is pictured above with her son Edward O’Neal.

A mother of four, two of whom have passed away, O’Neal spent 25 years working at a mill in Darlington and 15 years at her son’s restaurant in Olanta.

“I have always loved to work, ever since I can remember,” she said. “I also love to garden, especially flowers.”

Her husband of 25 years, J.W. O’Neal, is deceased. She has seven grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. O’Neal celebrated her milestone birthday with friends and family on Friday, January 20. Her secret to living so long, she said, is her faith.

“Put your hands in the right person, God,” she said. “I have trusted the Lord with whatever changes I had to make.”

For more information about Pee Dee Gardens, please contact Administrator JoAnn Flick at (843) 667-6699 or visit us on Facebook.