BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – SURROUNDED by family members and lots of gifts on Thursday (Jul. 4), Teressa Gladys Williams enjoyed the good company on the occasion of her 100th birth anniversary during celebratory get together at her home in Stapleton Extension in St. Peter’s Parish.
Teressa originally hails from Gingerland in sister isle Nevis but had taken up residence in St. Kitts during her early childhood years.
She has been living in St. Peter’s with her niece Albertha Brotherson and family for the past nine months, prior to residing in Upper Market Street, Basseterre.
Brotherson, who is one Teressa’s caregivers, is in the nursing field.
Brotherson explained that Teressa is quite alert, pointing out that she knows her name and where she is form. She also disclosed that her hearing is slightly impaired and she is currently unable to walk because of arthritis.
“She is kind and loving person and God-minded,” she added.
Sharlyn Williams, a second caregiver, described her great aunt as being a “friendly” person.
She said her favourite dish is corn and fish and noted that she frequently visits the home and reads Psalms 23 to Teressa, which is the centenarian’s favourite Scripture, as well as other Biblical passages.
According to Williams, “She likes to tell you about the old time days.”
Brotherson pointed out that another of the centenarian’s favourite meal is vegetable soup, adding that the woman “still has her Nevis twang”, that is, her speech mannerism from her native island.
Teressa’s great, great niece, Zenra Ferdinand braided her natural white hair for the occasion and had a pretty pink bow attached to it.
Ferdinand, during the celebration, occasionally told Teressa, “After di weather you deh!” A compliment which she said Teressa usually tells someone when he or she “looks nice”.
Coincidentally, one of her visitors that day was her grandson, Colin Manners, whose 51st birth anniversary was also on that day.
Manners and his wife Kathleen were visiting from West Yorkshire, Leeds in England.
While the traditional birthday song was being sung by well-wishers, Teressa, who sang along with them, touched her grandson’s face and spoke to him in acknowledgement that it was also his birth anniversary.
The two shared a slice of the cake; with him cutting piece with a fork and feeding her, to which the centenarian ably returned the birthday honour.
The Manners had taken a birthday package for Teressa which included a fancy broad hat, a pair of sunglasses and a birthday greetings card.
Teressa was shown a bottle of drink by Brotherson and she questioned what kind it was.
“Ah hope it ain’t no rum enuh, because me nar drink rum,” Williams remarked, which brought much laughter on the special day giving a perfect example of what her great niece (Sharlyn Williams) had said, “Her mouth still saucy.”
Champagne was the contents of the bottle.
Dr. Terrence Drew also extended best wishes to his great grandmother.
“I just want to wish my great grandmother a special 100th birthday and I hope she lives to see many more.”
Another great niece, Tasia Williams, also commented on the centenarian.“She is sweet and outspoken. She loves a ‘bad’ story. She loves to talk a lot of old stories. She is fun to be around...she is also jokey.”
At the age of 100, Teressa’s awareness of her surroundings, strikingly good memory and conversational skills are quite remarkable!
This reporter wishes to extend best wishes to her maternal great-grandmother, Teressa Gladis Williams, with hopes that she has an enjoyable life with each passing day.
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