> At a Glance
> – Wilma Cagle and Welthy Senn, identical twins, turned 100 in November
> – They live together in Greenville, SC, dress alike, and share a bedroom
> – Both have dementia but always know where the other is
> – Why it matters: Their lifelong bond shows how deep twin connection runs-even when memory fades
Wilma Cagle and Welthy Senn have spent a century side by side. Now 100, the identical twins still start every day under the same roof in Greenville, South Carolina, dressed in matching outfits and sharing meals with undiminished joy.
A Lifetime in Lockstep
The sisters have eight children between them-Wilma has three, Welthy five-who now rotate caregiving duties. Most live nearby and follow a daily schedule to keep their mothers comfortable and safe.
Aside from blood-pressure medication, neither twin takes daily prescriptions. Both live with dementia that mostly affects long-term memory, so Rebecca Hamby, Welthy’s 76-year-old daughter, speaks for them.
> “They don’t remember much beyond the present, but they always know where the other one is.”
> – Rebecca Hamby
Nighttime Rituals That Never Changed
The twins share one sun-lit bedroom, separate beds just feet apart. Yet they still sometimes end up in the same bed, a habit that began in childhood and outlasted two marriages.
After Welthy’s husband died at 56, she often stayed with Wilma. More than once, Wilma’s husband-who had been Welthy’s husband’s college roommate-found the sisters curled up together and simply went to sleep elsewhere.
| Milestone | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | November 2023 – both turned 100 |
| Guests at party | Over 140 family members |
| Daily prescriptions | Only blood-pressure meds |
| Children | 8 total – 3 Wilma’s, 5 Welthy’s |
“I Never Go Anywhere Without My Sister”
About a year ago, Wilma’s daughter planned a concert outing for her mother. When the day arrived, Hamby found both sisters settled in at home, unconcerned about tickets or schedules.
> “I never said I would go anywhere without my sister.”
> – Wilma Cagle
Hamby says the twins rarely discuss death, but they often remark how blessed they feel to still be together. If one falls ill, the other grows visibly anxious, hovering and asking after her.
> “I really strongly believe they have kept each other alive. I don’t think one would be living without the other.”
> – Rebecca Hamby
Key Takeaways
- The twins’ bond has survived 100 years, dementia, and widowhood
- They still dress alike, eat together, and sometimes share a bed
- Over 140 relatives celebrated their centennial in November
- A 2016 University of Washington study found identical twins often outlive fraternal twins and the general population-something the family sees firsthand
From shared outfits to shared beds, Wilma and Welthy prove that for some, life is simply better when lived side by side.
