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Mar 16, 2009 News
The lot 2454 Soufriere Street, North Ruimveldt, Georgetown residence of Elfreda Jackson was transformed to a festive setting yesterday when family and friends gathered to celebrate her 100th birthday.
Jackson, who graced this world with her entrance on March 15, 1909, although feeble in appearance, continues to demonstrate her strength, even if just in her ability to vocalise hymnal lyrics.
And it was quite a singing session yesterday when the hymn ‘O God, our help in ages past’ was raised. Without a care in the world, Ms Jackson in tune with the gathering, sang to her heart’s content.
Singing, according to her daughter, Lynette Jonas, is in fact one of her favourite pastimes nowadays. She also enjoys watching television, particularly the various newscasts.
Lynette, who resides with and cares for Ms Jackson is the last of four children – Sheila, Irvin, Norma, Lynette – birthed by the aged woman.
According to Lynette during an interview with this newspaper yesterday, she is one of two siblings that are still alive.
Ms Jackson is also the foster mother of four children, Liliann, Evelyn, Joseph and Jack. She also has 11 grandchildren, 30 great grandchildren, and eight great, great grandchildren.
Ms Jackson, according to Lynette was raised by her mother in Alexander Village, Ruimveldt, Georgetown, and was the fourth of nine children. Only Ms Jackson and a younger brother Maurice are still alive.
She also attended school in the same village and over the years has developed an earnest belief in the Anglican faith.
And so it was with a strict Anglican background that all of her children were brought up, Lynette said.
Ms Jackson as a single parent was able to raise her children primarily from the wages she earned as a domestic.
Reminiscing on the deterioration of her mother’s health, Lynette said that back in 1996 Ms Jackson suffered a minor heart attack. She also suffers from arthritis and has been unable to walk for almost 13 years now.
However, her inability to walk, according to Lynette does not prevent her mother from assisting with cutting greens, cleaning fish and folding clothes.
Among her favourite dishes are coucou, a dish made from corn flour, and foofoo, a dish made from plantain with steamed fish, which she is known to wash down with a warm cup of coffee, her favourite drink.
And her day could not be completed without some fruit, her favourites being sapodilla and set mangoes.
But, although challenged by the inevitables of old age, Lynette noted that her mother seldom requires the attention of doctors. However, the family was given quite a scare recently when she developed a breathing problem and was admitted at the St Joseph Mercy Hospital for two days.
According to Lynette, who is sometimes challenged by the tedious task of caring for her mother, she is indeed happy to be in such a position to return the love and devotion that her mother had offered to her own, and even others when she was able to do so.
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