Edith Wilkinson’s family believe their 105-year-old could be the island’s next supercentenarian.
Wilkinson, a double amputee with a lively personality, celebrated her 105th birthday last Thursday with family and friends at her Coconut Grove, St Joseph home.
The former agricultural worker, who once carried water for labourers working on Springfield and Frizers Plantations to drink, had nine children, 34 grandchildren, 31 great-grands and 13 great-great-grands.
Elsa Leacock said she believed her grandmother could reach 110.
“She still bathes herself; she does not wear pampers and she has her body programme that she goes in [bed] at 4:30 every evening. She likes cassava, pigtail and fried fish,” said Leacock. “And by 6 o’clock she has to be in the living room sitting down listening to her radio.”
She added that the centenarian had a good memory and could recall historical events she experienced in her time, such as Hurricane Janet in 1955.
The 50-year-old said Wilkinson liked to keep herself active and do small tasks such as shelling peas when she could. She also pointed out that her grandmother wasn’t afraid to speak her mind.
“We are so happy that she has reached this milestone and we are hoping she reaches 110. She only has poor circulation, which caused her to lose one leg after a fall while walking to church on a rainy day, and the other as a result of losing a toe. But otherwise than that, she is good; she doesn’t catch colds or nothing that is stirring.”
Leacock said Wilkinson complained every time she had a doctor’s appointment, insisting that she had lived her life already.
Family members also flew in from New York to share in the celebrations, which included a church service at the Coconut Grove Wesleyan Holiness Church yesterday. (SB)
