Cleveland Woman Celebrates 95th Birthday With Special Parade

A community is helping an Oklahoma woman celebrate nearly a century of life with a special birthday surprise, despite the pandemic.

95-year-old Jean Peeples said thought three or four kids would stop by and holler at her from an open window.

She never expected family and friends would from near and far to celebrate her 95th birthday at the Baptist Village in Cleveland.               

They organized a parade for Peeples and drove by honking, with balloons hanging out car windows. 

The birthday girl sat outside next to a big sign in her honor and watched and waved at family and friends she hadn't seen in more than a month.              

Her family even stood from a distance, all wearing masks, and sang her Happy Birthday.              

Peeples said she's lived a good life and she remembers all of it.               

She said coronavirus is terrible and she doesn't like being cooped up, but said it's nothing compared to the Great Depression.

"What we went through was a whole lot worse than what this is. We didn't have any money, we didn't have food, we didn't have any clothes, we didn't have anything," Peeples said. 

Peeples said her secret to a long life is simple, “Work, work, work. Walk, walk, walk.” 

Her daughter says Peeples walks about a mile every day, up and down the halls of her retirement center.