Mary Louise (Cobb) Mc-Gee turned 102 on March 10.

Jerry Whitfield, who often gives plaques to folks in the community he believes are deserving of recognition, believes Mary is as deserving as most.

Whitefield noted that she has been described as “a housekeeper, caregiver, loyal friend, wise counselor and spiritual advisor.”

“She is a wonderful person, a loyal friend, a wise counselor and spiritual advisor,” He presented the plaque Saturday during a fund-raising fish fry for the NAACP held at the Mt. Olive Star Baptist Church in the Pierce community 10 miles west of Checotah.

The honoree was unable to attend the event.

Accepting the plaque was Miss Louise’s daughter, DeLois McGee.

“She’s in fairly good health, but has some dementia. She gets up and down on her own, and does quite well,” said De-Lois, who lives with Ms. Mc-Gee.

The Outstanding Citizen Award created by Whitfield reads: “In recognition of your outstanding dedication to the entire community of Pierce.

“Mary Louise Mc-Gee, aka Miss Louise, is a woman of God who has built a legacy of giving without expecting anything in return. She is a longtime resident of the Pierce/Warrior community. A member of Morning Star Baptist Church since 1931. A matriarch of four biological generations, Miss Louise is a moth-er and mentor of many community children. A Sunday School Teacher for five decades. A Proverbs 31 woman – She is clothed with strength and dignity.”

Whitfield presented the plaque on behalf of the Joseph LaCour College Foundation.

Miss Louise, as she is called by many, was born in an area called Deep Fork Bottom in the community of Richardsville, which no longer exists.

Her husband, Henry, passed away in 1995 and her daughter moved in with her in 2002.

DeLois has a house in Checotah, but felt Pierce was better for her mother.

“It’s much quieter,” she said.

Miss Louise has been devoted to her family, church and community.

“She was able to go to church the first Sunday in September, but she isn’t real cognizant,” she said.

Miss Louise has basically been a mother and housekeeper all her life.

“She lived on a farm. There were always things to do,” she said.

Miss Louise had nine children, two of whom died in infancy.

“All of her children have college degrees,” DeLois said.

A son lives in Okmulgee; two daughters live in Spencer and Oklahoma City and one in Wichita; another in Longview, Texas and one in Port Arthur, Washington.

“We all used to get together every Thanksgiving,” she said.

DeLois described her mother as a devout Christian who taught Sunday School to generations of kids.