107-year-old woman shares secrets to long life, reading Bible among them

A woman in South Carolina recently celebrated her 107th birthday and shares how her faith has contributed to a long life.

Adell Julie Thompson was born in 1915 and lives in Santee, S.C. 

"I do what the Bible tells me," says Thompson to a local news station, WLTX News 19.

She has lived through both World Wars. She has seen 20 presidents of the United States come and go in her lifetime. 

"I had no dream of being 107 years. But the Lord spared me, and I try to do the right thing, I guess, so people don't talk about you."

Her family and friends celebrated the momentous occasion by throwing a backyard party in October. 

According to WLTX, Thompson worked as a second-grade substitute teacher in the 1930s. In 1940, she married her late husband, Eddie. For much of her life, she worked on family farms which included picking cotton.

"I could pick 260 pounds of cotton a day, yessir. I'll never do it no more. I sure would drag now if I had to do it."

Thompson's legacy includes three children, six grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren.

"I thank the Lord to have me to do the right thing until I do go."