NEW ORLEANS — Most of us are old pros when it comes to Mardi Gras, you might have your dedicated spot along your favorite parade route. However, some people are celebrating their very first Carnival season. So WWL Louisiana went to someone who has plenty of experience to share with the newbies. A New Orleanian through and through, Ms. Gloria has been around for more than 100 Mardi Gras'.
Ms. Gloria said, "Oh I was born here all my life. My mother was born here."
For a 100 years Gloria Randolph has celebrated Carnival here in New Orleans, she said. "When I started going to them, I must have been about 16 years old and then from then I didn't miss anymore! I went to every one after that."
So it’s safe to say Ms. Gloria is a seasoned professional, she says her favorite part about Mardi Gras is the parades. A century later, Ms. Gloria still loves Mardi Gras.
"It is a special time, it's different from any other time," she said.
The now great, great grandmother remembers taking her son Wayne to the parades, saying, "If it was night, we could to the night parades, but if it was day parades we would make preparations to go to the day parades."
Rob Mills used to live next door to Ms. Gloria, he said, "I love her so much, she is like my mother. My mother and Ms. Gloria was friends."
Now they sit together on her front porch, Mills said, "Ms Gloria is like a mother to me." His family and Ms. Gloria's would celebrate Mardi Gras together. "There's a lot history around here, the Indians used to meet up over there on the corner.
Ms. Gloria will turn 101 years old at the end of the month, her advice to all new Mardi Gras enthusiasts, is to be careful, never go alone and be kind to others.
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