Louise Rosa Johnson Many of us had the privilege of growing up in a neighborhood with a favorite matriarch - a silver- haired doyenne who knew everybody, took time for the children, and handed out soft- voiced wisdom when asked.

Often this paragon would be, say, in her 80s, maybe even 90 years old. In Columbia's Wales Garden residential area, the community enjoys and shares with a living legend soon to celebrate her 107th birthday, Louise Rosa Johnson.

"The most important thing in my life has always been my family and my neighbors," she states. "I simply couldn't get along without all the wonderful things they do for me."

"Get along" is exactly what Mrs. Johnson does each day. While other folks, decades younger, complain about housework, the weather, or politics, Louise Johnson enjoys life. She has help come in two days a week, and her son, David, as well as her neighbors check on her often. She has always been an inveterate reader, and since her eyesight has been ravaged by glaucoma she has learned to rely on the reading- aloud tapes furnished through the Commission for the Blind.

"I don't know what I'd do without my tapes," she says. "The books are just wonderful, and it's all free. They'll send anything I ask for. I can't see the newspaper or other printed materials anymore, but with my books I can have everything."

Because of the tapes, she is able to continue her participation in the monthly meetings of the New Century Book Club, where she is the oldest member.

Until recently, she was active at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral and Shepherd's Center gatherings, where she set a mean pace at the bridge table.

It's hard to imagine

life as it was lived in 1901, the year of Louise Johnson's birth. "We went to Pawley's Island as often as we could get there," she says. "We now own a house on the creek which was inherited from my aunt. In my childhood, there was no electricity at Pawley's or running water. But the water and the crabs and the beach were just like they are today, and we thought it was wonderful. We still think so." Johnson thinks it was 1936 when electricity was brought to Pawley's.

She reminisces about her high school graduation from Georgetown High School. "Can you guess how many students were in my graduating class? Nine! I was the highest honor graduate. The next year my younger sister took second honors; and the next year our third sister was first. I still have the three medals that were given us."

Johnson graduated from Winthrop College in 1921. Her major? "Let's just say English. I really don't remember. It's a big advantage to be the oldest one around because you can say anything you want to and there's no one to contradict you."

There won't be any whoop- de- doo for her 107th birthday on July 26. "Been there, done that." Her family put on a big gala for her 100th at the Faculty Club at the University of South Carolina.

Her husband Julian, a Columbia attorney, died in 1974. They had four children, but two of their sons are no longer living. Her son David lives in Columbia, retired from Merrill Lynch. Her daughter Helen Royall lives in Camden.

She thinks she should have something profound to say by now, but can't think of anything special. "I can forgive children up to a point, but by the time they are about 20 I don't make excuses for them any more. They need to accept responsibility for their own actions.

"Let's just say I'm in favor of old age." Apparently, old age returns the favor.