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Atlanta Housing Authority, one of the largest housing authorities in Georgia and the nation, celebrated the 102nd birthday of its longest-living resident on Friday, March 24.

Meet Clara Bridges, the 102-year-old who still maintains her health and has an impeccable memory. Bridges, a retired nurse, has been residing with Atlanta’s Housing since 1975. When conversing with people, they’re always shocked at learning her age and ask the same question.

What’s her secret?

“People don’t know, God rained down on us,” Bridges said in a press release. “Days like this, people don’t realize what senior citizens go through.” 

When asked how she continued to live long, she responds with “…just a closer walk with God.”

The 102-year-old has lived quite a life. Growing up in Atlanta, she had always known that she wanted to be a nurse since she was seven. Her dreams came true after graduating from Booker T. Washington High School and the Clark College and Grady Hospital nursing programs. Afterward, she joined the U.S. Army, serving honorably during four installments. She 

retired in 1976 when she became the Peachtree Senior Tower’s first Black resident.

“I look back over my life, and I [often] ask myself, ‘Have I lived my life that was given to me to live? ’Cause [it’s] a lot [of us] who [would] take someone else’s life and live,” she explained. “But I wanted mine.”

For her 102nd birthday, Bridges had one of her wishes come true: to meet Dr. Bernice King, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s daughter. 

King tweeted about the moment, writing, “When Mama Clara Bridges, an #Atlanta elder, was asked what she wanted for her #102nd #birthday, she answered ‘to eat at The Varsity and to meet Bernice King.’ I was very moved by Mama Bridges’ answer; and excited to honor her request and sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to her today.”

Mama Bridges enjoys her home, community and family. Eugene E. Jones, Jr., Atlanta Housing president and CEO, said Bridges “represents the best of Atlanta,” adding they were honored to have her in their lives.