Clarendon County has a new centenarian.
Ruth Cantey Johnson turned 100 two weeks ago, celebrating her birthday April 20 in Manning, surrounded by family and friends.
"She's the last of a large family," said grandson Rob Thompson. "She and my grandfather were farmers, ran a country store and ran the Western Auto in Manning for years."
Born April 20, 1917, Johnson had a twin sister, Ruby Cantey Baker, who died in 2003. The family also remembered her on Johnson's birthday.
"She was born in 'The Corner,' a section of Williamsburg County," Thompson said.
Johnson grew up on the old Kingstree Highway, and later married Buster Johnson. The couple had two children, Bud and Brenda Thompson. Buster Johnson passed away in 1999.
She has six living grandchildren, four belonging to Bud and two to Brenda.
"One grandchild, Jamie Thompson, one of Brenda's children, passed away in 1984," said Rob Thompson.
Johnson has nine great-grandchildren and a great-great-grandchild, with another on the way. She also has two step-great-great-grandchildren.
Thompson said that his grandmother is still quite active, even now that she's in her 100s.
"She still loves to do yard work and keeps her yard and house in perfect order," he said. "She keeps a book of her favorite Bible verses. She has an old medical encyclopedia and pulls it out whenever she needs to 'diagnose' any ailments people tell her about."
Thompson said the family jokingly calls her "Dr. Ruth" sometimes.
"Her doctor joked that she won't listen to him because she already knows it all," he said.
And she has a plan for the next birthday, Thompson added.
"She told everyone at her party that she's starting over, and she will be 1 year old next year," he said.
