PHOTOS: Identical twins celebrate 100th birthday in Georgia

COLUMBUS, Ga. - A milestone birthday celebration took place last weekend and it was twice as special.

Mary Shipp Harrow and Martha Shipp Averett are identical twins. They were born on July 2, 1916 and on Saturday they celebrated their 100th birthday... together!

A big centennial birthday bash was held in Columbus in their honor. Dozens of family members, friends and elected officials attended the party. The twins also received birthday greetings from the White House and Georgia Governor Nathan Deal.

The Shipp twins grew up in Cusseta, in Chattahooche County, and are the oldest of eight children.

Mary was married to the late Isaac Daniel Harrow, Sr. and together they had seven kids. She has 21 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Martha was married to the late Jessie Averett, Sr. and together they had ten children. She has 21 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren.

To say the least, the Shipps have a very large family. Between the two elderly sisters, that's a total of 114 grandkids!

Both twins are still "dedicated and faithful" members of their churches.

"This is a very special occasion for our family and we are blessed, honored and excited for my mother and aunt," said Mary's youngest daughter Gerri Jones. "They are strong women of faith and they have touched so many lives during their lifetime!"

Statistics show the odds of identical twins living to celebrate their 100th birthday are about one in 700 million.