At 105, she may be Mississippi’s oldest fashion model – Magnolia State Live

Katie’s Ladies’ eldest fashion model turned 105 years old last week.

Josie “Dolly” Craig celebrated her 105th birthday on Wednesday like she does every year, with a birthday party at her favorite store surrounded by friends and family.

“Teasingly, I asked her where she would like to have her birthday party,” Katie’s Ladies owner Katie McCarstle said. “Without hesitating she said, ‘At your place.’”

The team at Katie’s Ladies celebrated with Craig. From left is Tanna Davis, Angela Gibson, Josie Craig, Katie McCarstle and Diane Jordan. (Sabrina Robertson | The Natchez Democrat)

McCarstle said Craig was one of her first customers when her store opened nearly 30 years ago and is like family.

She became a clothing model for her probably within a year after the store opened, she said.

Ryan Booth, a middle school teacher from Baton Rouge and the oldest out of Craig’s six grandchildren, said he imagines his grandmother was like the hyper schoolkid that every teacher has problems with when she was younger, because she is “so full of energy.”

Josie “Dolly” Craig celebrated her 105th birthday on Wednesday at Katie’s Ladies in Natchez. (Sabrina Robertson | The Natchez Democrat)

Craig has never taken so much as an Asprin for medication and hardly ever gets sick, he said.

A picture of fashion, Craig sat upright in her chair dressed in her white floral blouse she’d picked out with matching jewelry and a real lily corsage on her wrist.

Her birthday cake was also decorated with pink flowers in the shape of “105.”

Josie “Dolly” Craig celebrated her 105th birthday on Wednesday at Katie’s Ladies in Natchez. (Sabrina Robertson | The Natchez Democrat)

One of her closest friends, Jean Fairbanks, sat beside her.

“I knew Josie when all these people here were young,” she said.

“When they were babies,” added McCarstle.