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100-year-old Mary Catherine Titus Thomas. (Submitted)

Back row seated from left, son Alvin Thomas III, wife Patricia Thomas, granddaughter TaRhonda Thomas, 100-year-old matriarch Mary Catherine Titus Thomas, granddaughter Tressa Landry and her husband, Tory Landry. Seated in Tressa’s lap, great-grandson Thomas Landry, 3. Seated in front, great-grandson Beau Landry, 8; and great-granddaughter T’Ana Thomas of Stockton, California. (Submitted)

From left, daughter-in-law Patricia Thomas, granddaughter TaRhonda Thomas, birthday girl Catherine Thomas, son Alvin Thomas III, and granddaughter Tressa Landry. (Submitted)

Granddaughter TaRhonda Thomas, an ABC News reporter in Philadelphia, and 100-year-old Catherine Thomas of Natchez.

Family, friends and Mayor Dan Gibson help Catherine Thomas celebrate her 100th birthday. (Submitted)

Natchez Mayor Dan Gibson and 100-year-old Catherine Thomas. (Submitted)

Catherine Thomas sees her birthday cake honoring her 100 years. (Submitted)

Daughter-in-law Patricia Thomas, Catherine Thomas and son, Alvin Thomas III (Submitted)

Catherine Thomas and her son, Alvin Thomas III. (Submitted)

NATCHEZ — Using “Diamond Birthday” as a theme, the family of Mary Catherine Titus Thomas of Natchez came from near and far to help her celebrate her 100th birthday on Saturday.

Dozens of family and friends gathered with Mother Catherine, as she is affectionately known, at New Beginnings PCH, including loved ones from Louisiana, Mississippi, California, Texas and Pennsylvania.

Several members of Rose Hill Missionary Baptist Church attended, along with their pastor and First Lady.

The event was catered by Southern Style Restaurant and Catering.

Honored guest was Natchez Mayor Dan Gibson, who spoke kind words about Mother Catherine and issued a proclamation declaring Sept. 17 as Catherine Thomas Day.

Others attending were her son, Alvin Thomas and his wife, Patricia, of Baton Rouge; Granddaughter, TaRhonda Thomas, who is a reporter for ABC News in Philadelphia; Granddaughter Tressa Landry, who is a copywriter at Workhorse Marketing, and her husband, Tory Landry, and children, Beau Landry, 8, ad Thomas Landry, 3, all of Houston; and great-granddaughter, T’Ana Thomas, of Stockton, California.

In addition to family, several of her former students attended the celebration.

She was born Sept. 17, 1923, to Elmira and Wilson Titus. The Tituses had two sons and six daughters. Mary Catherine was the oldest daughter.

Her early education was as Brumfield High School. She attended college at Natchez College and earned a bachelor’s degree from Alcorn College in 1969 and a master’s degree from Jackson State in 1976.

Mrs. Thomas served as a classroom teacher and a remedial reading teacher in Jefferson County for 32 years.

She is a longtime member of Rose Hill Missionary Baptist Church and served as a vice president of its senior usher board and is a Mother of the Church. She is also a member of Lizzy Shumaker Elks No. 1052.

Mrs. Thomas was married to Alvin Thomas Jr., who passed away in 1997. They are the parents of five sons: Johnny (deceased); Alvin III, William, Leonard (deceased) and Gregory (deceased).

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