Shreveport’s Pinkie Wiggins is all smiles as she turns 100-years-old

SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) — A very special member of our community reached a milestone on Thursday that few achieve. Pinkie Wiggins turned 100-years-old.

“Well I don’t feel any different than I did last year, but it feels wonderful,” said Wiggins, who goes by the nickname ‘Sweetie’. “I’m getting so much attention it’s hard for me to take it.”

NBC 6 News cameras were invited into her family home to celebrate the occasion.

“I can’t get away from people calling and people coming by. And boy, I’m just living it up!” she said.

Family members sang a heartfelt Happy Birthday to the centenarian who has lived in Shreveport since she was 17.

‘Sweetie’ Pinkie still cooks for herself, and she even drives. She shared a few secrets to her amazing longevity.

“Treating people right. Doing the right thing. Being raised right and you know just coming on up and it just stuck with me. I didn’t turn away from my raising,” she said. “I learned to love people and help people where I could. And don’t expect pay for everything that I do.”

She also shared a bit of advice for the younger generation.

“Enjoy your life while you got it, but in the right way. There’s a lot of enjoyment in life doing it the right way,” she said. “You don’t have to be uppity. You don’t have to be mean, hateful and be tough. Just do it the right way and you’ll enjoy it just as well.”

Pinkie has one son who is just 18 years away from being a centenarian. He’s 82 years old. She also had a grandfather who lived to be 103, so hitting the 100-year mark runs in the family.