CARTHAGE, Texas — Phala Maye Nail is celebrating an incredible milestone as she turns 106 years old! To honor this cherished resident, Panola County Nursing and Rehabilitation in Carthage organized a drive-by birthday celebration on Friday.

Her best advice for those younger than her to is live “a Christian life each day as best as you possibly can.”

Phala’s granddaughter Karen Coulter said her grandmother has been in the Carthage-area community her whole life. 

“I believe it’s quite remarkable that someone who has been here all their life, just like our family for hundreds of years, continues to carry on that legacy,” Coulter expressed. “Her presence, storytelling, and being celebrated by her community is truly special.”

Her granddaughter Shelly Weber said their family is thankful to the people who came out to show Phala love. 

“You know we always say she might outlive all of us. She just keeps going and going and we just love her,” Weber said. 

Her granddaughters reveal that Phala’s secret to longevity involves her talent for cooking mouthwatering homemade meals, along with her passion for gardening and farming all her food.