102nd birthday party

All of her adult life, Georgia Carter cooked for others.

In fact, that's how the Akron woman earned her living. She was a personal cook for many years for a prominent physician's family.

She was self-taught, didn't use recipes. And her clients were always satisfied.

Mrs. Carter has long since put away her apron. In fact, she's been a resident at the Arbors of Fairlawn, a skilled nursing facility, and now has others cooking for her.

The former Georgia Carroll — born July 22, 1907, in Ramer, Ala. — moved with her family to Akron in 1944.

She and her late husband Emmanuel Carter had no children.

Mrs. Carter was a longtime member of Akron's United Baptist Church, where she was on the Usher Board. ''At one point she was president of the Usher Board,'' said Joan Shaw, the Arbors' life enrichment director.

''She's an amazing one. She still walks with a walker. She loves to read and she likes to sing.'' Mostly gospel music. And who could blame her if she, from time to time, hummed a few bars of Georgia on My Mind?

Mrs. Carter was feted with a birthday party at the nursing home. Guests included family friends and her nursing home family.

2 major milestones

Sister Mary Elizabeth Noel is marking not one but two major milestones in her life this year.

Fellow Dominican nun Sister Theresa Damicone said Sister Noel celebrated 75 years of religious life on May 3 and her 100th birthday Tuesday.

Three parties were planned to toast the historic birthday: two earlier in the week at Regina Health Center in Richfield, where she is a resident, and one on Saturday at Our Lady of the Elms Convent in Akron.

''Sister Mary E, as she is known, is one of eight children of Andrew and Elizabeth Noel,'' Sister Theresa noted. ''She entered the Sisters of Dominic of Akron from St. Jerome Parish, Cleveland. Most of her teaching career has been at the high school level, where she taught English, religion and music at St. Vincent and Our Lady of Elms high schools for a combined total of 32 years. She also taught at Cardinal Mooney High School, Youngstown, for 14 years, where she was chair of the English Department for four years. . . .

''For a number of years she volunteered teaching pupils at an inner-city public school in the area.

''Sister Mary E was very active in justice and peace activities and was a member of the Akron Catholic Commission, a Cleveland diocesan justice organization. Being a 'people person,' Sister Mary E is always ready to welcome visitors with a smile and a big hug.''

For health reasons, she was moved in December 2007 to the health center.