100th birthday of Hempstead's Margaret Holder draws friends, elected officials

After a hundred years of life, Hempstead resident Margaret Holder looks back with a sense of gratitude.

Empires have fallen and men have walked on the moon in her lifetime. Still, Holder — a longtime bridal milliner in Manhattan and business owner — said her family and Christian faith have seen her through.

“I thank God for giving me another year in my life,” Holder said, later adding. “I feel wonderful.”

On Sunday, dozens of family members, friends and elected officials tipped their hats to Holder for a surprise 100th birthday celebration at the Lutheran Church of the Epiphany in Hempstead.

The celebration at her church home featured music, food and other festivities. Holder, donned in a black embellished hat of her own making, was greeted with citations and other recognition by lawmakers like Nassau County Legis. Olena Nicks, Town of Hempstead Deputy Supervisor Dorothy Goosby and Nassau Comptroller Elaine Phillips.

The centenarian also posed for pictures with relatives. Hempstead resident Kanisa Holder said her grandmother is a vessel of knowledge and wisdom.

“She has a really great memory and she’s still just teaching us,” said Holder, 50. “It's wonderful. She's so nurturing, loving.”

Born in 1925, Margaret Holder lived in several places, including Philadelphia and the Bronx.

Her inspiration to choose a career in fashion came from one of her aunts, who had a millinery shop in Harlem and made hats for notable Black women.

Holder eventually became a bridal milliner at a time when “the mother of the bride wore hats, themother of the groom wore hats” as well as the bridesmaids, she said.

She continued doing that work for more than 30 years. In the 60s, she moved to Hempstead and eventually started a hat shop, which has closed.

Throughout her life, her family said she believed in helping others, hosting fundraising fashion shows, and giving away hats to nonprofits, relatives said.

Goosby describes Holder as a wise friend. Both of their families went to the same church, and Goosby remembers buying a hat from Holder’s shop.

“Whatever I wanted, I got it,” Goosby said of Holder’s store.

Throughout her life, Holder said, the experiences that have meant the most to her involved her family, which includes her late husband and late son, and a host of other relatives.

Her message to younger people is clear: Stay optimistic — and find a mentor.

“Keep looking up,” Holder said.

By Tiffany Cusaac-Smith

tiffany.cusaac-smith@newsday.com@T_Cusaac

Tiffany Cusaac-Smith is a general assignment reporter for Newsday. She previously worked at USA TODAY and is an alum of Howard University.