On Sept. 18, hundreds of people gathered at the Reggie Lewis Center to celebrate the induction of 13 individuals, including two Dorchester residents, into Central Boston Elder Service’s (CBES) Centenarian Society of Boston.

CBES is a nonprofit organization that provides elderly and disabled individuals in the community with comprehensive care and support through a diverse range of programs.

Sylvia L. Exantus, the executive director, describes CBES as “an organization that helps people in their time of need. Sometimes somebody needs just a little extra help to be able to live independently,” she said, “and our services are vital to them doing that.

That situation can be especially true for those in the Centenarian Society, founded in 2011. To be inducted into this elite group, an individual 100 years old must be living at home and receiving in-home care services provided through the Executive Office of Elder Affairs.

 The society “embodies the mission of the organization and it’s a celebration of individuals who have lived long lives and still live in their communities,” said Exantus. “They’ve done so much, and they’ve impacted with wisdom.”

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu joined in the celebration. Here she stands with CBES project manager, Divina Nievas-Masso (left) and CBES executive director, Sylvia Exantus. Craig Bailey photos

While over a dozen elders were celebrated last week, only two joined the fun in person. This included Dorchester’s Gloria Beckford and Miriam Chase Manning. 

Exantus described Beckford, who was born in Jamaica and migrated to the US in 1968, as a “pillar in the community”who spent 25 years working at Tufts Medical Center and retired at 65. After just four years away from work she returned out of boredom. 

Beckford’s favorite activities are baking cakes, gardening, and shopping, all of which she can be found doing with freshly manicured nails. Her words of wisdom are, “Eat good food, keep good company, don’t waste your life, and don’t hold grudges. Forgive and move on.”

Like Beckford, Manning also had a long and vibrant professional career.

“Miriam worked up until her mid-nineties so when I say making an impact in her community, can you imagine that?” said Exantus.

Born and raised in Boston, Manning worked as a hairdresser, seamstress, and baker. Above all, she loved to work with children – at Associated Day Care Services at Columbia Point for 25 years and at ABCD Early Head Start for 26 more. 

She had five children of her own, and is now a grandmother to 12 kids, a great-grandmother to 18, and a great-great-grandmother to 2. She enjoys eating mashed potatoes, crocheting doll dresses, and listening to Bruno Mars. 

Exantus got to celebrate Beckford and Manning and the other honorees with their family members and caregivers as well as state and city representatives, including Mayor Wu. 

“As you can imagine, older adults are often overlooked. This is an opportunity to have a spotlight on them and celebrate all those years of life. That is not something a lot of us will get to,” said Exantus. “It’s a significant milestone and that’s why we believe it’s very important to celebrate that.”

On Oct. 26, CBES itself will be celebrating its 50th anniversary with a gala and expo at Hyatt Regency Boston/Cambridge. The black and gold attire event begins at 4 p.m.. Those interested in buying tickets can do so online at cbes50thgala.com/tickets.

“One of the goals is to not only celebrate the milestone but also to raise the important funds that help us augment, because the state funding alone is not enough for the needs of the community we serve,” said Exantus.