Ms. Mabel Brown, 103, the oldest person alive in the cool hills of Hazel Wood District in Bamboo, St. Ann and her neighbor Mr. Collin Williams, 93; both were recognized for their strong community spirit on April 29, 2012 during a Seventh-day Adventist tent campaign in the district. The recognition came against the background of highlighting outstanding Jamaicans during the year of its 50th anniversary celebration which culminates on August 6.
“I was born the 3rd of March 1909,” said a sharp and intuitive Mabel, “I tell you, it is God and the good unfertilized food that has kept me alive,” she willingly expressed in giving thanks to the Brittonville Community Club and to the members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Bamboo pastoral district for her a gift package.
Pastor Gary Buddoo-Fletcher holds the microphone for 103 year-old Ms. Mabel Brown, as she tells her age during her moment of recognition, at the Bamboo district of churches tent campaign, April 29. The pastor of the district, Kirkwood Parkinson, waits his turn to make the presentation of a special gift, packaged for her.
Pastor Gary Buddoo-Fletcher, who participated in the event said, “North Jamaica Conference is proud to be associated with this historic affair in recognizing Ms. Brown and Mr. Williams who have added positively to our community. We are more than grateful to God, that they were able to minister to us in their own special way. As Jamaica is celebrating its 50th anniversary, no doubt it is persons such as these who have created a strong legacy of building Jamaica’s community spirit. So we thank God for keeping Ms. Mabel and Mr. Collin who have lived through many storms,” said the executive secretary of North Jamaica Conference.
While both golden agers are ten years apart, it was Mabel who was born the same year of the Greater Antilles hurricane which struck Jamaica in November 1909. Since then, not only have the two experienced many storms, but both have lived through the transition of Jamaica’s colonial system to the point of independence. However rich their history, as is Jamaica’s, it was their community involvement that made their lives significant.
“Mothers would actually send their children to Mabel, affectionately called Aunt May, to stitch their clothing. You see, people were very poor back then and couldn’t afford much, so the youngsters would take their garments to her and she gladly sew them. In addition, she grew a number of children, I can’t even count them.” said Mrs. Carmen Wilson, who grew in the same community as Aunt May. Wilson is also a member of the Brittonville Community Club and first elder of the Free Hill Adventist Church.
“From my salary as a household helper, I grew 25 children,” said the proud centenarian who is born of Mr. Evett and Endret White.
“One day a ‘white’ woman pulled up in a car right here in Hazel Wood. She asked me if I remembered her, I said no. She said that I took care of her when she was a baby. I took care of so many children as if they were my own,” said Aunt May.
Currently, Aunt May is cared for by one of the girls whom she nurtured as a child-Sharon Farquharson; her neighbor and members of the Brittonville Community Club. But, when asked about other surviving siblings, it was Sonia Thomas, her neighbor of forty years who explained, “She talks about a sister in Kingston, but we don’t know much about her.”
Ms. Mabel Brown seated beside 93 year-old, Mr. Collin Williams, her neighbour, who is fixing his Accordion so that he can listen to the sermon preached by Pastor Parkinson in the 'God's final call gospel tent crusade' held in Bamboo, April 29.
In the same community as Aunt May, is an aspiring centenarian, Mr. Collin Williams, affectionately called Mass Will. He was born on July 31, 1919 to Mr. Adolphus Williams and Ms. Ida Brown. He survived two wives and has had two children, one from each marriage.
“As for Mr. Williams, I grew up as a little girl hearing him play the Accordion as he walked through the community. At three in the afternoon, as children, we awaited him so that we could run behind as he played, entertaining us with a variety of songs. If we didn’t hear Mass Will, we knew something was wrong. Up to this point, he loves to play at every funeral service in the community and if he is not on the programme, it was trouble. But he really knows how to brighten peoples’ lives,” added Mrs. Wilson.
James Williams, amazed by his father’s passion for music explained that he was a farmer and mason by profession, but his greatest love is playing his Accordion: “He loves playing that instrument so much that when they stopped working he would purchase a new one; this one that he has now, is his third.”
Mass Will told that he learnt to play the Accordion from his grand-father and decided to purchase one for himself. The last one he imported from England, was
some sixteen years ago. In inspecting the instrument, Mr. Williams noted that there was no manufacturers’ date on it.
“This Accordion that I have imported from England, I paid eight thousand Jamaican dollars for it. I make this sacrifice, because I find it a joy to make others happy with my music,” he said.
In addition to saying thanks for his recognition, Mr. Williams played the song, ‘Amazing Grace How Sweet the Sound,’ from the instrument that appears to be as old as he is.
Mrs. Ada Webb, president of the Brittonville Community Club, listens to Mr. Collin Williams play his Accordian while Pastor Buddoo-Fletcher holds the microphone for him.
Story and pictures by Dyhann Buddoo-Fletcher
