Halie Forstner turned 110 years-old over the weekend, and Monday a grand celebration was held in her honor—complete with a parade, a large pink cake, 110 pink balloons and 110 bottles of her favorite drink: Coca-Cola.
The celebration was held at Morning Pointe of Chattanooga assisted living community where
Ms. Forstner has been a resident since early 2021.
“I am so excited about my birthday, and I just appreciate everything that everybody has done for
me to help celebrate it,” said Ms. Forstner as she sat outside under the portico to safely
participate in the festivities.
At noon during lunch, Morning Pointe Senior Living founders Greg A. Vital and Franklin
Farrow presented Ms. Forstner with proclamations from Tennessee leaders Governor Bill Lee
and U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty. Mr. Vital and Mr. Farrow also presented her with a certificate
acknowledging her special age and lifetime accomplishments. And the icing on the pink cake?
110 bottles of her beverage of choice: ice cold Coca-Cola.
“Halie has lived through some incredible life events,” said Morning Pointe of Chattanooga
executive director Cody Harvey. “Two pandemics, two world wars, the advent of the Internet
and so much more—she’s an inspiration to all of us on how to age gracefully, and is still quite
active at 110. You will see her out and about, visiting with other residents from time to time. It
really is quite something.”
After lunch, the day was capped off with a birthday parade through the portico of the assisted
living community as Ms. Forstner watched and waved to passers-by. Clowns, antique cars from
different decades, and plenty of friends and well-wishers, including friends from Lookout Valley Presbyterian Church, drove through with “Happy Birthday” signs and cards for her. Bagpipers
from Alhambra Shriners Highlander Pipes and Drums played beautiful hymns and songs. All in
all, it was a birthday celebration fit for a queen—Morning Pointe’s queen, Ms. Halie Forstner.
A ribbon cutting ceremony marking the grand re-opening of Morning Pointe of Chattanooga will be Thursday, April 15 at 11 a.m. The Lantern Alzheimer’s Center of Excellence at 7620 Shallowford Road is currently under reconstruction and is scheduled to open Summer 2021.