Margie Heilig Young turned 100 years old on Jan. 9. She was born in Rowan County on Jan. 9, 1920 to Lucy Watson Heilig and John J. Heilig. She graduated from Boyden High School in 1937, and married James Ray Young of Churchland in September of that year.

While Ray served in the Army, Margie worked at Carolina Made. After Ray’s discharge they both worked at NC Finishing Company. Together they joined Dunn’s Mountain Baptist Church where Margie taught Sunday school for 15 years and sang in the church choir. Margie and Ray were married 49 years before he passed in 1986.

Margie loved to take trips to the coast to fish and work in her yard. She maintained the lawn and flower beds until she was 93. She was an excellent seamstress and made wedding dresses, and also did needlework.

Margie has been blessed with good health (she still drives) and enjoys support from her neighbors who check in on her. She credits her faith, friends, family and staying active for a long a fulfilling life. Margie celebrated her birthday with family friends with a party on Jan. 11.