What do you do when you turn 100 during a pandemic? You party—with proper social distancing, of course.

This week, East Long Beach resident Marie Graves, who turned 101, and Bixby Knolls resident Paul Robinson, who turned 100, were treated to a drive-by parade of cars with friends, family—even a Long Beach Fire Department truck and Long Beach police cars.

Robinson, who worked as a civil engineer, has two kids, five grandchildren and six great-children. He has lived in the house he bought in 1949 with his wife, Kathy.

Graves moved to Long Beach when she was 11. She lost a brother and sister to the Spanish flu many years ago.

“God has been good to me,” she said. “It’s not up to me, you know? I’ve got a great family.”

She had seven children with her late husband, and now has 16 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.

Paul Robinson and his wife Kathy wave as members of the Long Beach police and fire departments lead parade friends and family vehicles, during Paul’s 100th birthday celebration, in front of his home in Bixby Knolls. Paul Robinson was born May 12, 1920, and has two children, five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Photo by Stephen Carr.
Marie Graves uses a walker on her way to her 101st birthday celebration, in front of her East Long Beach home. Graves has seven children, 16 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren. Photo by Stephen Carr
Marie Graves sits in a comfortable chair during her 101st birthday celebration, in front of her East Long Beach home. Photo by Stephen Carr.
Marie Graves sits in a comfortable chair during her 101st birthday celebration, in front of her East Long Beach home. Photo by Stephen Carr.
Friends and family pass by in their cars, during Marie Graves’s 101st birthday parade celebration, in front of Marie’s East Long Beach home. Photo by Stephen Carr.
Friends and family pass by in their cars, during Marie Graves’s 101st birthday parade celebration. Photo by Stephen Carr.
Marie Graves sits in a comfortable chair during her 101st birthday celebration, in front of her East Long Beach home. Photo by Stephen Carr.
Friends and family pass by in their cars, during Marie Graves’s 101st birthday parade celebration, in front of Marie’s East Long Beach home. Photo by Stephen Carr.
Preparations are made for Marie Graves’s 101st birthday parade celebration, in front of Marie’s East Long Beach home. Photo by Stephen Carr.
Friends and family pass by in their cars, during Marie Graves’s 101st birthday parade celebration. Photo by Stephen Carr.
John Robinson and his wife Cinda Robinson prepare a sign in front of fathers house Paul Robinson, during a 100th birthday parade celebration, in Bixby Knolls. Photo by Stephen Carr.
Members of the Long Beach Police and Fire Departments lead a parade of friends and family during a 100th birthday parade celebration for Paul Robinson, at his home in Bixby Knolls. Photo by Stephen Carr.
Paul Robinson waves as members of the Long Beach police and fire departments lead parade friends and family vehicles, during his 100th birthday celebration. Photo by Stephen Carr.
A parade of friends and family vehicles pass by, during a 100th birthday parade for Paul Robinson. Photo by Stephen Carr.
A parade of friends and family vehicles pass by, during a 100th birthday parade for Paul Robinson, at his home in Bixby Knolls. Photo by Stephen Carr.
Paul Robinson and his wife Kathy wave as members of the Long Beach police and fire departments lead parade friends and family vehicles, during Paul’s 100th birthday celebration, in front of his home in Bixby Knolls. Photo by Stephen Carr.