YPSILANTI TOWNSHIP, MI - At 106, Dorothy Wilson still can recall her childhood address and teacher.

And if it wasn't for a spill within the last week, she probably would have been up swaying her hips to the tune of "Happy Birthday to Ya," too, with the crowd gathered to celebrate her birthday Tuesday, Nov. 28.

Instead, she swayed while seated, smiling, singing along and offering her own slice of sweet potato pie - her favorite - to those nearby.

"I must say, I'm happy to have lived this long and still know my name is Dorothy Wilson," she told the crowd with a smile, eliciting cheers.

The residents of Clark East Tower, her independent living community on Clark Road in Ypsilanti Township, threw a surprise party to celebrate Wilson's next year in the triple digits.

Speaking to the crowd, Wilson didn't miss a beat rattling off various addresses and names throughout her life.

Born in 1911 in Mount Vernon, New York, Wilson lived through the Great Depression, operated a catering business in Riverhead, New York, with her husband, worked as a nurse, moved to Michigan in the 70s to be with family and has been active as a volunteer and at Ypsilanti's Brown Chapel AME Church, she and family said.

Her nephew, Melvin Roper, 68, of Ypsilanti Township, described her as an inspiration.

"She's the matriarch of the family," he said. "She's always been a joy with a lot of life, lots of advice."

She's always been "sharp as a whip," and never one to complain, said family, friends and doctors waiting their turn to greet Wilson.

Though Wilson said she "never expected," the about 100 people that attended the party, few others were surprised with the crowd.

Former resident Peggy Proffit, 75, who said Wilson volunteered with her mother at the former Beyer Memorial Hospital before the two met again at Clark East Tower, described Wilson as a "beautiful soul."

"That's the shortest way I can describe her," Proffit said. "She's always positive, always helping, takes charge at times. She's just a wonderful person to know."

Wilson always offers to help with events at the facility and, with her sharp memory, always has a story to tell, facility service coordinator Denise McKalpain said.

"I tell her, 'You remember better than me,'" McKalpain said with a laugh.

With her latest mile marker and vibrant presence in the community, where she's lived since Dec. 1989, staff made sure Wilson could visit from Glacier Hills Senior Living Community, where she's undergoing rehabilitation for her fall, McKalpain said.

The community also stepped up to throw the event.

McKalpain and property manager Robyn Warden put the event together and donations for the event were provided by Arbor Lakes Pharmacy, Care Home Health Agency, Eastern Sav-Mor Pharmacy, Alliance Home Health Care Services, Visiting Counselors of Michigan, Health One, REO Construction, Ypsilanti Family Pharmacy and Dr. Sheryl Bentzley.

The Washtenaw County Sheriff's deputies, including Sgt. H. Eugene Rush, stopped by with gifts and hugs.

Rush used to hold the community policing meetings at the facility, where residents would ask if he was married and how he was, he said with a laugh. Wilson always asked poignant questions and Rush was delighted to find she remembered him.

"It's definitely a blessing to be able to meet someone whose 104 at the time and be able to come back for 106," he said.

Wilson told those who came up to give her a hug that she has no secret to longevity, and spent much of her time at the event thanking others. Residents at East Clark Tower are part of her family, as are the members of the community that visited, she said.

When asked about the great many people who came out to celebrate, she noted that she's done a lot of volunteer work. That's one recommendation she has in life. The other was kindness.

"I never looked down on no one regardless of what they were or where they came from," she said. "And always treat the other person the way you want to be treated."