By JANET McGREGOR
jmac_snippet@hotmail.com

At 103, Nettie Knight is still experiencing “firsts.”

This year, as part of her 103rd birthday celebration, her friends at Southland Nursing Home in Peachtree City coordinated with Moby from Kicks 101.5 country radio station to have her talk on the radio for the first time in her life.

During their on-air conversation, Moby asked Knight to say his well-known line, “Yeah, baby!” She came back with her own version, “Hey, baby, baby” which elicited a chuckle from Moby.

Knight also had another first — she received a birthday greeting from the crew of “Good Day Atlanta” while her photo was shown on the morning television show.

Asked what she would do to make her 104th birthday unique, Knight just smiled, shook her head and said, “I don't know. I just don't know.”

More than 60 celebrants joined Knight for her birthday celebration at Southland Nursing Home Friday, one week after her actual birth date of April 1.

She received flowers, shoes, a basket of goodies, fingernail polish and many other gifts from friends and relatives.

Knight has four children, 30 grandchildren, 60 great-grandchildren, five great-great grandchildren and three great-great-great grandchildren. With a shy smile, she admitted to not being able to remember all of her grandchildren's names.

She was born in 1897 and lived in Whitesville, Ga., until 1995. She was married to Erskine Knight for 66 years. While married, she worked as a cook, cleaned a doctor's house and was a care giver.

Knight is known at Southland for her sense of humor. “She is very quiet-spoken, but loves joking with the staff,” said Angie Brown, activity director at Southland. “She often sits in her doorway to give us a smack as we go by, just to keep us straight.”

According to roommate Nancy Brown, “She's a pleasure and has a good sense of humor. We've been together for at least three or four years, so I know her well.”

Knight attributes her longevity to her love of others and desire to do good.

She also keeps active. Asked what she enjoyed doing most at Southland, she replied, “I like to play ball. Any game having to do with a ball.”

Knight has been in the Southland Beauty Pageant for the past four years. This year she was the second runner-up.

Family is a high priority with Knight. She spends time with members of her large family, and often goes with them on special family outings. She was active in their school activities and enjoyed “serving and worshipping in church.” She was a member of the Rose Chapel United Methodist Church and said, “I've always been a Methodist.”