A century of grace

With a life rooted in faith, and a legacy built on love, Anita Gertrude Morrison said she felt blessed to witness her heritage as her family and friends came together at the Pilgrim Church of God in Roberts Field, St Andrew, recently to celebrate her 100th birthday.

“I feel so happy,” the centenarian told The Gleaner.

It’s the blessings of God, she said, that have kept her healthy, with no chronic illnesses at her advanced age, and sharp eyesight that allows her to still be able to read for pleasure.

“I read without glasses once the print is not so small,” she said, adding that she only experiences a little “dizzyness” every now and again that reminds her of her age.

Eating organically grown food also contributed to her living this long, Morrison believes.

“In my days wi neva know ‘bout di fertiliser business, so we eat the good ol’ food. The food weh wait suh till when it ready,” she said.

Born in Labour Hill, a small district in Portland, on December 14, 1925, her life has been a testimony of God’s grace, guidance and sustaining power, her granddaughter, Tajeria Morrison stated, while extolling her value and contribution to the family at her birthday celebration.

Morrison, who is also known as ‘Mama Birdie’, is the proud mother of 11 children, 24 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.

“Through every season, she has walked in faith, trusting in God’s hands, and leaned on his promises,” she said.

With all these years behind her, Morrison said she has witnessed a lot of changes in society. But the one that frightens her the most is how indifferent children have become to the instructions of their parents.

“These children nowadays, it seems as if dem bawn wid fi dem ears, but di ears nuh have no hole,” she said.

However, she said she likes the fact that in today’s society, it is illegal for children to not be in school.

“In our days, if we even stop from school, is no problem; but nowadays children stop from school, the parents have to tell the reason why, and things like those,” she said.

REFLECTION

She recalled her days attending the Avocat Elementary school in Portland (now Avocat Primary and Infant School), which she described as “very unpleasant”, as students would often leave the school without being able to read.

Although she wasn’t good at “arithmetic”, she believed she made up for it with her essay-writing skills.

‘All mi fada di a teach mi wah something weh dem call long division, and a tell yuh, him throw lick pon mi, and all now mi cya do di long division,” she said, while laughing.

She may not have been a maths whiz, but for her granddaughter, Shadona Morrison, with whom she shares the same birthday, she was a literary and creative genius who taught her to appreciate books and fashion.

“She basically spoiled me. Growing up, she always read stories to me, and she is one of the persons that allowed me to love the English language, writing and creativity,” Shadona told The Gleaner.

She said her grandmother, a stalwart in the church for about 70 years, extended her influence beyond her immediate family.

“Those who grew up under her care, it was a century of love, guidance, and protection formed by her prayers over them and their community,” she said.

And as Morrison settles into this milestone, and embraces a new year, she said her wish for her family and Jamaica is for a closer walk with God.

“A wish for more spiritual prosperity; and when we pass spiritual, the temporal side will follow,” she said.

sashana.small@gleanerjm.com