Another year older and still smiling! Wellesley's oldest resident, Herlda Senhouse, celebrated her 113th birthday on Wednesday, February 28, 2024 with a small party and many well wishes.
Friends and fans gathered at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Needham where Herlda is recovering from a brief illness.
Dressed in pale pink and wearing her signature red lipstick, Herlda shook hands, received hugs, and spoke with local news organizations, telling everyone she's "feeling much better."
Wellesley Select Board Chair Tom Ulfelder presented her with a resolution honoring her extraordinary milestone birthday, highlighting the fact that Herlda is also the oldest resident in the Commonwealth and in all of New England. She has held the ceremonial Boston Post Cane, presented to the oldest resident in Wellesley, since 2016.
"Through her strength of character, joy of life, kindness, and sense of humor, Herlda continues to enrich the town we share," said Tom.
Members of her spiritual community at Myrtle Baptist Church in West Newton delighted the guest of honor with a rousing rendition of "Happy Birthday" before Herlda blew out three candles on her cake.
The party also included longtime friends and dancers from the Boston Clique Club, a jazz dance group that Herlda founded in the 1950's, which raised money to improve educational opportunities for Black students in Boston.
Born in Piedmont, West Virginia in 1911, Herlda was sent to live with an aunt in Woburn, Massachusetts at age 16 and graduated from Woburn High School. She has lived in Wellesley for 41 years.
Happy Birthday, Herlda!