Mayor Michael A. Nutter hosted 15th Annual Centenarian Celebration luncheon honoring Philadelphia’s 100-year-old residents on May 21 at the Sheet Metal Workers Union Hall.

The celebration paid tribute to more than 100 Philadelphia residents who are over the age of 100. The event was designed to recognize the accomplishments of Philadelphia’s centenarians, or those soon-to-be centenarians (who will be 100 in 2015) with this year's theme of “Saluting Centenarians: A Celebration for the Ages.”

“There are very few centenarian celebrations of this magnitude, in which a city recognizes the achievements and lives of its residents, and so we feel privileged to have the opportunity to honor this distinguished group,” Mayor Nutter said. "My administration has been committed to providing services so that every citizen, especially our seniors, can lead high-quality, independent lives. These amazing seniors are among the oldest people in the world, and have been part of the backbone of our communities, working and raising families in Philadelphia.

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Mayor Nutter also declared May 21, 2015 as “Centenarians Celebration Day in Philadelphia” as part of Older Americans Month.

This year’s celebration featured Fannie Mae Ausby, 108, the oldest woman in attendance, and Dr. Eli P. Zebooker, 102, the oldest man in attendance.

Born in Augusta, GA, Ausby moved to West Philadelphia at the age of 92. She is a former baker, avid gardener, music lover and a big fan of John Wayne westerns. Zebooker, of the Society Hill neighborhood, is a former dentist, avid history reader of history, collector of Philadelphia maps/prints/books and a World War II army veteran who served in France and Germany.

Other notable centenarian attendees  include Azlene Giles, 106, and Catalina Rolon, 100. Giles was born and has lived in West Philly for most of her life, making her the oldest Philadelphian to attend the luncheon. Rolon moved to Philadelphia from Puerto Rico in 1959. In Puerto Rico, she worked with her mother in a political campaign resulting in the election of the first Puerto Rican governor chosen in a free election, Luis Muñoz Marín.

The celebration also included performances by The Blackbird Society Orchestra, the Northeast Older Adult Center line dancers, and magician Ari Felber as well as speakers Lydia Hernandez Velez, (Deputy Managing Director for Aging/Mayor’s Commission on Aging), Gail Garrett, Legislative Affairs Manager of Philadelphia Corporation for the Aging) and Terri Lewis (Regional Communications Director of Social Security Administration/Philadelphia Region).

The Northeast Adult Center Line Dancers perform during the Mayor's Centenarian Celebration yesterday. #philly pic.twitter.com/AOh2Rt09o2

— AL DÍA News (@ALDIANews) May 22, 2015