LIFELONG FRIENDS stood and embraced each other in happiness as one celebrated her 100th birthday yesterday.
Centenarian Delphine Johnson was embraced and kissed by her 99-year-old friend Viola Stewart, who lives nearby in Allen View, St Thomas.
Stewart, who reached her 99th birthday on February 9, said she was very happy her friend had made it to 100. She too is looking forward herself to reaching age 100 next year.
Johnson is familiarly known as “Dunk” – a name she got because of her small size. She said she could not have made it that far without the help of God. She could be heard repeatedly saying: “I’m still here” – a phrase from her favourite song.
The mother of eight children, four of whom are still alive, said longevity was not commonplace in the family since she was the last remaining of 13 siblings and the only one to reach that ripe old age.
And though she last celebrated Mother’s Day with her mum more than 80 years ago, she vividly recalls several details about her, especially her death on August 15, 1929.
“She left me a little girl,” Johnson said. “I remember when she died; she was in my arms and I was feeding her with some tea. I remember her last words. She said, ‘I am making it safe to glory’. So I know that if I live true to my God, I will see my mother again.”
Johnson has all of her mental faculties intact. She still cooks and washes her own clothes.
Granddaughter Joy-Ann Johnson said her vision was still sharp as she could stand in the patio and tell how many ripe mangoes were on a tree a fair distance away. She also threads needles for others.
Johnson, who attended the Vault Road Pentecostal Church for many years, said: “God has been good to me. I came up the long, hard road, but I made it.” (LK)
