`I FEEL GOOD' RETIREE MARKS 100TH BIRTHDAY IN LITTLEROCK.

Byline: Peggy Hager Staff Writer

LITTLEROCK - Surrounded by family and friends, Coretta Adams celebrated a belated 100th birthday party as the guest of the Antelope Valley Transportation Authority and its Senior Advisory Committee.

The celebration took place at Carol's Cafe in Littlerock, where the restaurant operator treated the guest of honor to lunch and dessert. She also got a corsage from Conroy's Flowers and a decorative candle.

``I feel good. I feel happy, and I'm enjoying everybody coming around,'' said Adams, who has lived in the Antelope Valley for some 40 years.

She moved to Littlerock with her husband, a retired railroad worker, and did home-care work. She still lives in her own home, with caretakers to help her.

Her son died in 1996 in his 70s. She has three granddaughters, five great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. One of her nephews is boxing great George Foreman.

``I talk to her a lot about some of the stuff she's seen - like the first time she saw an airplane. And now what does she think about the space shuttle and things like that? We talk about that a lot,'' said her nephew Donnell Franklin. ``It's just great because it's a lot of history there.''

The party was the third party thrown by the AVTA and the Senior Advisory Committee since June as part of their new program to recognize valley residents 80, 85 and 90 or older. Participating restaurants treat those 80 and 85 to dessert on their birthdays, and those 90 and older get lunch as well as dessert.

Adams' stepson Willie Rhinehart was delighted by community recognition of the centenarian.

``I love it. I feel like anyone who is 100 years old is entitled to it,'' said Rhinehart. ``She deserves it, and I know she appreciates it.''

Participating restaurants include Baker's Square, Denny's, Carrows, IHOP, Greenhouse Cafe, Texas Cattle Company and Carol's Cafe. The AVTA provides free transportation for seniors who can use a bus, and Robertson's Honda has offered transportation to and from home for others.

``The AVTA thought it would be a wonderful thing to do this for the seniors who have paid their dues to society, and somebody should give them their 15 minutes of glory,'' said Raedell Simon, a member of the Senior Advisory Committee. ``We try to find everybody who's old enough and still capable of moving around to enjoy themselves. This is their day.''

Rina Campero, customer service representative for the AVTA, said the agency routinely provides free bus transportation for seniors from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and all day Saturdays and Sundays. ``The seniors hold a very special place in the heart of AVTA,'' said Campero.

Nell Gatson, a member of the Senior Advisory Committee for Littlerock, said she alerted party sponsors to Adams' 100th birthday.

``She has been living where she lives for probably 40-50 years,'' said Gatson. ``Everybody in the neighborhood knows her - very sweet person, real friendly, real sweet. Worked in her yard until a year ago.''

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) A group celebrates the recent 100th birthday of Coretta Adams, second from front at left, in Littlerock.

(2 -- color) Kimo Hernandez of Conroy's Flowers watches Annie Gibson pin on a corsage he gave Coretta Adams, 100.

Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News