In order to honour her milestone a party was hosted at Rynpark One, and her family and friends turned out to celebrate her big day.
Max was married to Frederick, who died in 1982, when he was 75 years old.
She has raised four children, Pierre, Ginger, Frederick and Wilhelm, and has four grandchildren, Liezel Forlin, Celeste Bezuidenhout, Tania Spitsmesser and Frederick Bezuidenhout, as well as two great-grandchildren, Michael Spitsmesser and Angelo Forlin.
Max was born in Bronkhorstspruit and was raised on a farm.
Her earliest memory is of fetching duck eggs on her family farm at four years of age.
Her son, Pierre, said his mother has always been tough and hard working.
“She brought us up well; my father was gentle, but my mother was tough,” he said.
”For her it was either the right way, or no way at all.”
Since she was a stay-at- home mother, Max kept busy by making clothes and taking care of her children.
She lived in Brakpan for most of her life and has been staying at Rynpark One for the past 10 years.
For Max, it is a privilege to have lived to see 100 years.
“I am the last one in my family to still be alive and, because so many people do not reach this age, I feel privileged,’ she said.
She is grateful and happy that her family came to join her birthday celebration, because they are seldom together.
“I believe that God will never let you down; because of the situations in my life it could have turned out differently if he was not there for me” she said.
Her great-grandson, Angelo, expressed his delight that she has lived for so long.
“I am happy she is still alive,” he said.
“My friend Daniel’s great-grandmother also turned 100 years old, and we both feel special.”
As Max has reached a century, she says there is nothing more to be hopeful for, besides being more hopeful.
