Katie Mae Beck Dees was honored on her October 1 birthday on which she turned 100 years with a Key to the City of Picayune and a proclamation that October 1, 2013 was Katie Mae Beck Dees Day at the city council meeting.Born October 1, 1913 in Cybur, Miss., Dees was the third child of Elie and Cornelia (Nellie) Parker Beck.She married Walter Jack Dees, Sr. on March 19, 1932 and was widowed in 1947.There are nine children born to Katie and Walter Dees,  Sr.: Mamie Rae Dees (deceased); Walter Dees, Sr; Shirley D. McCaskill (deceased); Rev. Alonzo C. Dees (deceased); Alice R. Dees; Calvin J. Dees I; Paul Dees; Pearl D. Ducre; Willie E. Dees and two additional children, Edward L.  Parker and Evelyn P. Walker.Today Dees has 44 grandchildren, 72 great-grandchildren and 18 great-great-grandchildren.She is the oldest member of Pilgrim Bound Missionary Baptist Church and the only surviving organizer of the City Mission Union.At Pilgrim Bound MBC, she has served in various capacities for over 80 years which included: Young Women Auxiliary Matron, Sunday School teacher, Sunday School Class Superintendent, Advisor to the Junior Women Auxiliary, Usher and Senior Mission Auxiliary.She was awarded the NAACP Mother of the Year in 1984; Black History Celebration Honoree in 2003; Pilgrim Bound MBC Mother or the Year in 2004 and 2008; Pilgrim Bound Recognitions as Mission Matron in 2007; Pilgrim Bound dedicated Service to Usher Board in 2008.