She was born on Sept. 26, 1914, in Lauderdale County, in Alabama's northwest corner. At the time, women did not yet have the right to vote, Jim Crow laws restricted the rights of Black Americans, and Woodrow Wilson, the 28th president of the U.S., was in the White House.

Cunningham recalls growing up on a farm and going to church. She has outlived her four siblings — as well as her husband — and has more than 100 nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

"I've been working ever since I was able to put a flour sack around my neck and pick cotton, chop cotton," she says. "So, that's just about almost all I did growing up. Was in a field chopping cotton, picking cotton ... go to school, go to Sunday school and on to church."

She credits God for keeping her safe through many events over the last century, including two pandemics — influenza in 1918 and COVID-19 — and two world wars. A member of Rock Primitive Baptist Church in Florence, she attends church every Sunday and reads her Bible every night and every morning.

"I just always had faith and trust in God that he was going to carry us through regardless of what other people said," Cunningham says.

When she's not at church, Cunningham cooks, watches game shows and does crossword puzzles. Her great-niece and great-nephew, Pat Turner and Rickie Cole, say she was still driving herself to the grocery store until a few months ago.

"She is determined," Cole says, recalling how Cunningham had hip surgery when she was 102 — and was nearly walking on her own just a week later.

Lillie Cunningham and her great-nephew Rickie Cole at her home on Sunday. "She is determined," Cole says. She doesn't need a walker to get around and refuses to use a cane. Cunningham family hide caption