Members of a retirement community showed they still have the glit and glam of their youth.

Century Care on Hasty Road had their second annual Christmas Pageant and the seven contestants were dressed for an evening in the ballroom.

One of the women had a last-minute wardrobe changed, according to Margaret Lytch, social worker and event emcee.

"Miss Dockery told me she wanted to wear high heels, which is why I am here in socks," Lytch said.

The upgrade in shoes was not enough to earn her the win, however.

Mary Alford – the oldest Century Care resident at 102 – was crowned pageant winner. After being given a bouquet of roses, she was rolled around the room and waved to the other contestants.

Alford credited her experience with earning her the win.

Carrie Pegues, a former neighbor of Alford who watched her win on Tuesday, recalls the centurion as being a kind woman.

"I have never lived beside anyone as good as she is," Pegues said.

Barbara Hendricks, director of dietary services for the retirement home and the mastermind behind the pageant, said the idea for the holiday event came to her last year during the 40-minute commute from her home in Holly Springs.

The activity director was out and she was attempting to brainstorm something for the residents to do. She saw something about the Laurinburg Christmas Parade and thought that, should they do a pageant, the winner can ride atop a Century Care float and wave to those around.

"The administrator at the time just jumped on board," Hendricks recalled. "It was such a success that we decided it was going to be an annual thing every December."

While the winner got to ride in the 2008 Laurinburg Christmas Parade, this year's winner was crowned nine days after the annual event. Instead, Alford will ride in the Laurinburg, Maxton and McColl Christmas parades, along with the two runner-ups.

Hendricks says the residents have thoroughly enjoyed the pageant and were excited when it came around again.

"Look at their faces; they are just beaming."

The contestants and onlookers aren't the only one's who enjoy the pageant.

"I get so excited about it because I love it," Hendricks said. "I wanted to start something because we are back in the sticks and no one cars about the good we do. We've got this old building and I am sure people ride by and think there is nothing here. If they stop by, they'll find it is filled with loving hearts. That is why I wanted to do something where people would know what we are doing."

Hendricks, who has worked for larger retirement homes, says she's with Century Care because she loves it.

Administrator George Rallis said he'd been looking forward to the event for a long time.

"I thought it was awesome. I was totally impressed," Rallis said. "I started in April and they were still talking about the previous event."