Bessie Higgins was a teacher most her life, beginning in a one-room schoolhouse in Concord, Butler County. Now 105 years old, she gives lessons in growing old gracefully.

She was born on Dec. 23, 1902, in Concord, the fifth of six children. The family farm had no electricity, but her father had one of the area's first radios, powered by a battery.

She graduated from Concord High School and received a bachelor's degree from what is now Slippery Rock University. In addition to Concord, she taught in Zelienople and Etna and at Butler Business College. She retired in 1967 after 10 years as a special education teacher in Center, Butler County.

In 1933, she married Frank Higgins and they had three children: Rodney Higgins of Fairfax, Va.; Marilyn Davis of Yardley, Bucks County; and Suzanne Burns, now deceased. For more than 60 years, Mrs. Higgins has been a member of the Unionville Grange and First English Lutheran Church.

Her husband died in 1985, and in 2002, she moved to Concordia Haven I in Winfield. A fire there in November forced her and more than 100 other residents to move into a new building on the Concordia campus. A lifelong reader, she has to use a magnifying glass these days to read small print.

Mrs. Higgins said she has always worked hard and kept busy, but she doesn't know if that's the key to her longevity.

"I really don't know why I've lived this long," she told the Butler Eagle in 2002. "But God must have a reason. I'm convinced of that."

If you or a friend or a relative recently turned 100 or will soon do so, the Post-Gazette would like to hear from you. On an occasional basis, the Magazine section will feature short stories on people marking their 100th year.

To be included, send the honoree's biographical information and your phone number to Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Century Club, Attn: Kevin Kirkland, 34 Blvd. of the Allies, Pittsburgh 15222. Fax: 412-263-1313. E-mail: kkirkland@post-gazette.com.