A Georgia centenarian, Peggy Cobb, rang in her 109th birthday with a bash at the Hammond Glen Retirement Community in Sandy Springs last Wednesday. The celebration highlighted not just another year of life but her 75 years with the Philanthropic Educational Organization (PEO), known for championing women’s education and empowerment.

Cobb, who saw the Great Depression turn her family from banking to farming, managed to make a substantial mark on the world, starring as a true example of durability. According to a FOX 5 Atlanta report, Cobb—one of six siblings—earned degrees from the University of Minnesota and St. Cloud State University at times when women often did not pursue higher education.

Her birthday festivities at Hammond Glen featured a fashion show, a birthday cake, and a happy hour, 11Alive detailed. While Cobb believes there is no single secret to her longevity, she credits a lifelong curiosity and an ability to be continuously fascinated by the world, with interests ranging from current events to pennies.

“I don’t think there’s any secret to being [109]. I just think keep interested in something,” interpreting every moment as a chance to learn, Cobb is a testament to the same, said during an interview with 11Alive. She added an adage from her father: “Furnish your mind well, and you will always have a comfortable place to live,” which she has carried throughout her life.

As an author, too, Cobb has made her mark, penning a children’s book titled “Painter Pan: The Rainbow Man” for her 108th birthday, celebrating the stories she shared with family over the years. Her contributions to society extend beyond personal achievements, running parallel with her late husband for 59 years and experiencing the tenures of 18 U.S. presidents.

In offering advice to younger generations, Cobb emphasized the value of staying curious and embracing the technological marvels of today’s world. “I just can’t imagine ever being bored about anything because just keep interested,” Cobb told 11Alive on her birthday.