Etta Williamson on a walk in his community in Wallens, Linstead, St Catherine, last Wednesday.Photo: Naphtali Junior
At 100, Etta Williamson saw an active lifestyle, chartering taxis and making solo trips to the Linstead market in St Catherine every Friday.
Born in the Dunkeld de Troja district, St Catherine, on May 13, 1925, she shared that she grew up on a farm there with her brother, her grandmother, her mother, three aunts and three uncles before moving to Wallens in Linstead. His father passed before his birth. According to the centenary, her career makes her an expert in the selection of products – an activity she likes.
“I am shopping, I don’t buy,” said Williamson. “Young people do not buy, they buy.
“They come and see things here, and they want it. They don’t care how much they buy, they don’t wait to see if they can get it a little cheaper. But I make purchases, I compare the prices … I get on the road and I come back, and I know which to buy, “she told the to The A said to the at The to the at The at The at The The Away The The The The The The
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“Do I come from the country, so I know which is good,” she added, laughing.
Williamson said that she was also cooking for herself and made her own laundry, based only on her grandchildren, who take care of herself, to make the big dupage.
“You don’t need a machine to wash a dress (you wore) for a day. If I wear it one day, I wash them,” she said, sharing her preference for traditional tracks.
The 100 -year -old said that she also liked to read and love embroidery, a competence she acquired by her mother who was a seamstress. In fact, she sold her embroidered pieces, but now she does them for family members and friends.
When asked how she manages to maintain such an active lifestyle at 100 years old, she attributes her health to God, her love for fruits and vegetables and long walks she has often made in her youth.
Williamson shared that she had many career paths, including the production of nursing and clothing, before being content with teaching. After graduating from Mico University College with her teaching certificates, she said that she had obtained a job in a school in seven miles from her home.
“When I started, we didn’t have taxis and things like that, so I chartered someone. But when I had my first salary, I could not resume this man, then I traveled the seven morning miles and in the evening, and I am there quite early, “she said proudly.
The centenary said that if teaching was not her initial choice, she is grateful for the impact she had on young lives during her decade of service.
“I love helping children and others to achieve something in life,” she said
Sunday observer.
“I had a child, she was supposed to be a third year student, and when she went to school, the third teacher sent her to the infants. I took her back and, in three months, she was able to return to her class, ”she said, smiling.
“I took her to my table, and helped her.
Williamson said that she had two children, Cleon Johnson and Delroy Myrie, that she grew up to enhance education and God. She has seven grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. She was also married to Richard Williamson, who has now died.
As she thought about the 100 years, she praised God for keeping him through all of this.
“It’s good to be 100 because God kept me. He always kept me and strengthened me to see this age – and I am grateful to him, “said Williamson.
She said that her celebration of the 100th anniversary was an emotional and joyful event that took her by surprise.
“They said they take me to take me to Linstead. When I arrived, my great-grandson came and took me by the hand and said: “Come grandmother”, I said: “Where am I going? And said to him: “There”. I said, “Is there there is? And he said, “You will see,” she recalls.
Williamson said she had been escorted through a room filled with relatives and friends who all encouraged her. She was sitting on a chair at the front of the room with a crown on her head.
“When I saw the number of people there, I was shocked because I didn’t know anything about it. They never said a word, but it was good. I appreciated everything. I thought of my son, my grandchildren and so on, and saying that we would just have something little – it was my plan – but when I made the suggestion, they did not yet know.
“The people of Canada and the friends I know, my sister-in-law was there, and her sister and other church friends. They were there and I was surprised to see them because I didn’t know anything. When it was time for me to speak, I did not do much because of joy and excitement.
The eldest member of her family, she expressed again thanks to God for everything he has done.
“I feel really good that God was so good with me and he kept me until this time; I’m not in bed
Brenda Hall, Williamson’s sister-in-law who flew to Jamaica for the celebration, said she couldn’t miss the opportunity.
“She is a remarkable woman. We appreciate her long life. We appreciate her wisdom, her lawyer and her love,” said Hall.
She was joined by her sister, Joan Henry, who said that Williamson had always been kind to their family.
“We had a good time together each time we meet, so I was more than delighted to be able to be in its celebration and see so many people who came well to him. We know that God is for his part and it was he who kept it, “said Henry.
Williamson’s granddaughter, Judeian Myrie, was smiling while she was talking about the love she has for the centenary.
“Since I was little, she was still there for me. I was the girl she didn’t have-because I was the first granddaughter-so every dress she had, I had a dress like that,” she said smiling.
Williamson, having been on Earth for 100 years, had two messages for the youth of Jamaica.
“All they have to do is try to give their life to the Lord and let him direct them (to them) and live well. Try to have a skill (so that) you can work to support you, instead of depending on things that are not correct,” she encouraged.
Family members and friends come together to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Etta Williamson. X
Etta Williamson (center) and his great-grandson Calan Brown (right) cross a crowd of relatives and friends who surprised him for his celebration of the 100th anniversary.
Centenarian Etta Williamson talks about his weekly trips to the Linstead market in St Catherine during a visit to her home in Wallens last Wednesday.Photo: Naphtali Junior
Etta Williamson (center) is surrounded by family members and friends (from left to right) Calvert Brown, granddaughter Judeian Myrie, sister-in-law Brenda Hall and friend of the Joan Henry family. Photo: Naphtali Junior
Etta Williamson displays a embroidered part she recently made. Photo: Naphtali Junior