Nationwide — Mason Byrd, an African American woman from Kansas City, Missouri, has turned 107 years old surrounded by the family she helped raise. Born in 1919, Byrd has spent most of her life in the same city and has raised nine children. As she reached another major milestone, she shared a few of the habits she believes may have helped her live for more than a century.
Her large family has watched her remain active and independent well into her later years. Her grandson, Mark Byrd, said one of the biggest things she has focused on throughout her life is avoiding unnecessary stress. “Her focus is no stress,” he said, according to Local 12. The family believes that approach has played an important role in helping her maintain her quality of life.
When Byrd was asked about her own secret to longevity, however, she did not point to one specific habit. Instead, she offered a simple possibility. “Maybe it’s love thy neighbor, but I really don’t know,” she said. Her answer reflected the uncertainty that often comes with trying to explain a life that has lasted more than a century. Still, she said, taking care of herself has remained important.
Healthy eating is one of the habits she continues to follow. Byrd said she tries to eat as well as she knows how and continues learning about ways to stay healthy. “I eat as healthy as I know how, and I try to learn more all the time,” she said. “I eat healthy so I can feel healthy.” Her family also said she continues to keep both her mind and body active. She takes part in water aerobics and reads about one book each week.
Her daughter, Otona Dahmer, described her as resilient, self-sufficient, and someone who enjoys being around people. Byrd has also reached a point where she has outlived all of her friends, according to her grandson. “She’s outgrown and outlived all of her friends, and she’s outliving everyone,” he said. She said that even after 107 birthdays, she could not choose one favorite birthday memory when asked about the celebrations she has experienced over the years.
For her family, the milestone is less about looking back at one particular birthday and more about hoping for another one. Her daughter, Willa Byrd, said she wants her mother to continue living as long as she remains healthy and happy. “I love her,” she said. “I want her to live as long as she’s healthy and happy.” For now, Byrd’s 107th birthday gave her family another chance to celebrate a woman whose life has stretched across more than a century.