SMITHVILLE – Margaret Morgan may not have been born in Smithville, but after calling the Chenango County township home for nine decades, it’s safe to say she is a native.

On Sunday, the eve of her 100th birthday, Morgan’s friends and family members gathered in the basement of the Smithville Center United Methodist Church to celebrate the milestone with the spry centenarian.

Morgan has been a parishioner of the historic church since her family settled on Robbins Road in Smithville when she was 10 years old. Ninety years later, she is still an active member of the congregation. In fact, she was nearly late to her own celebration, as she was upstairs counting the collection following the early morning service.

“Don’t try to help her down the stairs, she won’t let you,” said retired Methodist Minister Mary Ann Lender, wife of the church’s current pastor, as Morgan, dressed in a blue pantsuit, made her entrance.

Despite her advanced years, Morgan is fiercely independent. She still carries in her own firewood, shovels her own snow and rakes her own leaves, much to her nephews’ chagrin, according to longtime friend Bea Lobdell.

Many of her fellow parishioners attended her birthday party, including Terry Ives and his family, who travel from Guilford every Sunday to attend services at the small church.