500 years of memories
ARTHUR Walker, Leon Silvester Williams, Virgina Hall, Ruby Hall and Albertha McDonald have one thing in common — they have each lived for over 100 years, experiencing the various changes that the country has gone through.
Two Fridays ago, through the efforts of a caring policeman, the five centenarians — who all live in Parade Gardens, Central Kingston — were feted at the Learning Institute of Central Kingston.
Sergeant Carl Simpson from the Gold Street Police Station said after he met one of the centenarians through an effort to organise a health fair for senior citizens, he put the wheels in motion to search for others living in the community.
After the five were found, the senior cop approached sponsors as he felt it would be an honour to acknowledge these persons publicly.
“I am so happy to be able to play a role at this stage in their lives,” Simpson told the Jamaica Observer. “To be able to get them together was really awesome. And they really felt good to meet persons of their own age. We really wanted to make it special for them and all in all it was a good venture.”
Like Albertha McDonald, who was profiled in last week’s Sunday Observer ‘100 not out’ feature, all but one of the other four centenarians confessed to have lived a life not free of what the doctors do not recommend for long life — drinking or smoking.
Arthur Walker, 103, who was born in Bath, St Thomas on November 4, was a farmer and readily declared that he much preferred things back then in comparison to now. He never smoked, but had a soft spot for alcohol.
“I used to drink a lot,” he declared. “I used to drink everything.”
In 1950, Walker moved to Kingston and has not left since.
He fathered three children, all of whom have since died.
Not letting anything get in the way of his fun, Walker joined his caregiver for a short waltz at the celebrations, to the applause of the gathering.
Leon Silvester Williams, who celebrated his 102nd birthday on April 24, also preferred Jamaica then to now.
“You didn’t have no guns and you could sleep with yuh door dem wide open and not a soul trouble you,” Williams said.
Born in Fruitful Vale, St Mary, Williams was a cabinet maker who moved to Kingston in 1945. Since then, he has lived “all over” Kingston.
He enjoyed drinking white rum and smoking cigarettes. Even now he said he still enjoys Red Strip Beer and will have one occasionally.
Virginia Hall, 101, was born in Lovely Grove, Portland on January 18, but left there at an early age for Port Morant in St Mary where she spent a number of years working as a farmer. Tired of rural life, Hall moved to Kingston and today resides at The Missionaries of Charity in downtown Kingston.
But as difficult as things are now, Hall said she much prefers now to back then.
“I am well-taken-care-of now. I wasn’t so well-taken-care-of in those days. And in those days I had no friends. But now I have a lot,” she said with a wide smile.
Hall gave birth to two children, one of whom has predeceased her.
Back in her younger days Hall enjoyed a good smoke, but quickly admitted to never touching ganja… only cigarettes.
To show that age was just a number, a still very active Hall jumped to her feet and did an impromptu dance as she enjoyed the celebrations in their honour, much to the enjoyment of others.
One hundred and three-year-old Ruby Hall (no relation to Virginia Hall) was more a lover of church. And, ironically, despite working as a domestic helper and cleaning bars, she never took a drink.
Ruby had two sons, one of whom died almost 20 years ago.
Today, Ruby’s granddaughter, Doreen McKenzie, said while she was no longer able to walk and move around as she once did, her mouth is the most active part of her body and she will do nothing else but talk all day.
Organised by the Gold Street Police in collaboration with GraceKennedy Limited, Food For the Poor, Art Printery Limited and A1 Plumbing & Maintenance Services Limited, the treat was held at the GraceKennedy-operated Homework Centre on Tower Street.
In addressing the celebration, GraceKennedy Group Chief Executive Officer Don Wehby commended the centenarians for their longevity.
“Most persons who are blessed with long life have a tendency to love their God, pray regularly and are thankful for their blessings,” Wehby said in his greetings. “They tend to have good values and are usually very polite, a trait the younger generation would do well to emulate.”
The GraceKennedy CEO playfully added that persons blessed with long lives also love to eat good food.
Wehby commended the police for the very kind gesture towards the elderly in the community and noted that the police worked under very trying circumstances and that Jamaicans should give them support.
Director of recipient services at Food For the Poor Susan Moore likened the golden agers to fine wine, saying that “they get better with age”. She noted that getting older was a privilege as not many persons would reach old age.
The honourees, as well as other golden agers in the community, were treated to a scrumptious meal, including a huge celebratory cake. GraceKennedy representatives also presented each honouree with a gift basket containing Grace products and other useful items.
The event was brought to a climax by veteran entertainer John Holt, who reeled out hit after hit, taking the audience on a walk down memory lane with songs such as A Love I Can Feel, Ali Baba, Sweetie Come Brush Me, and Love Takes Hold.
District Constable Yvonne Brown of the Gold Street Police and Tion Wright, Parade Gardens resident, also serenaded the centenarians in song.
Superintendent in charge of Kingston Central, Victor Hamilton, expressed hope that love and care would be evident in the community, especially during the coming Yuletide season.
Additional information provided by Dionne Rhoden, GraceKennedy Limited