A regional woman celebrated a century of life Monday afternoon surrounded by family representing four generations.

Joy Thomas celebrated her 100th birthday Monday at Golden LivingCenter – Brook Manor in Brookhaven with cake and pizza. Joy Thomas and husband, Louis Thomas, have two daughters, Lou Thomas who lives in Pennsylvania and Joy Alexander who lives in McComb.

Originally from McComb, Thomas was the women’s editor at the Enterprise-Journal in the late ’50s and early ’60s. The ambitious Thomas also worked at Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming where she wrote tourism brochures. Thomas served as a house mother for the Tri Delta sorority at Montana State University and University of Illinois. Thomas also started a catering business and cooking school in McComb.

Thomas’s granddaughter Rhonda Deer said she has been to every state in the lower 48 except for Maine and has been an avid traveler. Deer said Thomas has also written a number of children’s stories and is an accomplished and seasoned writer.

“She’s made friends all over the countryside,” Deer said, adding that Thomas still receives birthday cards from the Tri Delta chapters she looked after.

“Thank you all for coming, I don’t know how to say thank you enough,” Thomas said, after blowing out her candles.