Centenarian couple celebrates 82nd wedding anniversary, say no big secret to staying together

What's the trick to an eight decade marriage? Nothing, say D.W. and Willie Williams, both centenarians celebrating their 82nd anniversary. Just be nice to each other

Anniversary
D.W. (left) and Willie Williams. (WSOC-TV)

A couple in the Charlotte, N.C., area is celebrating their 82nd wedding anniversary along with their 103rd and 100th birthdays, WSOC is reporting.

D.W., and Willie Williams, 103 and 100, respectively, told the station that they remembered when they met and noted that they’ve lived through the Great Depression, World War II, the Korea and Vietnam wars and the Civil Rights era. They even remembered when a taxi cab cost a dime.

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But though they have been around and seen much, they said, there is no huge secret to staying together as a couple.

“I don’t have a secret, just be nice to each other,” Willie Williams told the station.

The media got wind up the long-lasting couple’s multiple milestones after the couple’s daughter and granddaughter decided to throw them a celebration. The couple’s relatives organized the gathering, compete with table cloths and balloons, at First Mayfield Memorial Baptist Church in Charlotte.

“To see them at this age and still doing well, it’s just a blessing to have them here,” granddaughters B.J. Williams-Greene told WSOC.

Williams-Greene said her grandparents are an inspiration to her in terms of maintaining relationships.

“It’s communication and loving each other and working together,” Williams-Greene said. “They are each other’s best friend,” the granddaughter added.

The couple’s birthdays took place in March and they are only seven days apart.

When asked by the station what they would do with themselves if they had another 100 years to live, D.W. Williams responded, “I don’t know.”

Willie Williams added, “Sit around the house.”

Members of the public were touched by the couple’s philosophies on life and posted their congratulations on Facebook.

“God bless them!” commented Kelly Springer Neferis. “We need more inspirational stories like this.”

“Happy anniversary to an amazing couple,” posted Philip Simon. “May you be an inspiration to other couples out there.”

“That means she married him at 18 years old,” wrote Lisa Bruce. “Amazing that they have such a blessed marriage!”

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