There were cheers and tears Tuesday night as those gathered at the Presbyterian Church of Saint Albans celebrated their joy, and in some cases disbelief, that Barack Obama was elected president of the United States.

"I'm from the era where I had to sit in colored sections and drink out of colored water fountains," said one reveler. "And I didn't think I would be alive to see today."

"These are tears of joy, of love, of hope, of being an American citizen," said another.

Many of the people celebrating Obama's victory had waited on line for hours to vote, but they said it was well worth it to see this historic day.

"I've seen little old ladies, little old men voting," said Reverend Dr. Edward Davis, pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Saint Albans. "But thing that really got me was all the young brothers, the homeys, the little thugs, the little sisters, they were out there voting."

"I was so anxious from this morning. I got up at 5 a.m. this morning. It was just a burning inside of me and I just knew that eventually we would overcome," said another voter.

Over in Jamaica, after getting the news of Obama's win, many took to the streets.

Over at The Door Restaurant in Rochdale Village, the dozens of people who gathered to watch the returns were also elated.

"Of course we are very excited we are very amped-up," said an Obama supporter. "We feel like we were going to be challenged, like we were in 2000 and in 2004, but we came through."

"Obama all the way!" said another. "Give him a chance. He will work."

Meanwhile, in South Ozone Park, a 101-year-old Obama supporter said she looks forward to the changes.

Orlee Carter, a Queens resident since 1965, lived through women's suffrage, the civil rights movement and now the first election of an African-American president.

"This president, he didn't do nothing right for the people. And I think now, the president we have now is going to do more for the people than the one we had," said Carter.

"She was around when she couldn't vote. And there are so many people who take voting for granted and don't vote, and she was around when it wasn't allowed. So that's big," said her grandson Matthew Carter.

Carter's grandchildren say she is a living history lesson and they draw inspiration from her.

Her 102nd birthday is next week.