More than 250 Shelby County residents, family and friends recently helped a longtime Alabaster resident celebrate her 90th birthday at the First Baptist Church of Alabaster.

Five generations of Mildred Bozeman Baldwin’s family and dozens of friends gathered in the church’s fellowship hall July 10 to help Baldwin celebrate with a party themed “Blessed are the piece makers for their children shall inherit the quilts.”

Because Baldwin has been knitting quilts for many years, each of Baldwin’s children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great, great grandchildren placed a quilt on display throughout the party.

Every quilt displayed during the party had been handmade by Baldwin and given to her relatives during the past 90 years.

Many quilts displayed during the event won blue ribbons in past Shelby County Fair contests, and are still being used and displayed by Baldwin’s family members.

And even though she is nearly a century old, Baldwin is currently working to craft a quilt for her great, great grandson, said Baldwin’s daughter, Peggy Jernigan.

In addition to a plethora of birthday gifts and wishes from her friends and family members, Baldwin also received a resolution from State Sen. Cam Ward, R-Alabaster, declaring her a “model citizen,” an “example of good, Christian living” and listing her contributions and accomplishments throughout the years.

“She is a very active lady, driving to her many church, club and senior citizen organizations,” Jernigan said. “She is never too busy to visit with those not as healthy at hospitals and nursing homes.”