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Reader-submitted: Portales resident celebrates 100th birthday

Courtesy photo Portales Mayor Sharon King proclaimed Monday as “Mildred Plexico Day” to honor her 100th birthday on Saturday.

Family and friends gathered in Portales from seven states and both coasts to celebrate Mildred Plexico’s 100th birthday. During the celebration, Portales Mayor Sharon King proclaimed March 28, 2011, as a day to pay tribute to a long-time member of the community.

Mildred and her husband, Fred Plexico, moved to Portales in March of 1951 with their six children. During her 60 years in Portales, Mildred Plexico served as a member of the Portales Women’s Club, the Ellen W. Jones Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, the Lions Club and the Roosevelt County Chamber of Commerce. She also served as a volunteer at the Community Services Center, the United Way and KENW-TV telethon for public broadcasting.

When presenting the proclamation celebrating 100 years of life, King said, “She is worthy of having a day named in her honor as a small token of appreciation for her contributions to this community.”

Mildred Plexico’s youngest sister, Emily Murphy, traveled from Jacksonville, Fla., to celebrate. Other family members from Arizona, California, Georgia, New Mexico, Tennessee and Texas joined the celebration representing 16 grandchildren, 40 great-grandchildren, 39 great-great-grandchildren and seven great-great-great-grandchildren.

The celebration was held March 26 at Central Christian Church, where Mildred Plexico has been a member since 1951.

— Submitted by Alvin Plexico