WINIFRED ODESSA “Winnie” Ince was feeling “fairly good” yesterday.
And she had every reason in the world to.
She was celebrating her 100th birthday, and was the centre of attention of family, friends and members of the Silver Hill Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church, who congregated at her Maxwell Hill, Christ Church, home to wish her many happy returns and share fond memories.
One of those was great-niece Celia Niles who flew in from New York for the occasion and told the MIDWEEK NATION of her great-aunt’s origins and faith.
“She was born in ‘Salt Pond’, along Maxwell Coast Road. I remember she used to take us to Sabbath school at the Cane Vale SDA church and she used to go to the beach every morning to swim, all up in her 90s,” she said, adding her great aunt’s only ailment is a cataract in one eye.
Ince was a part of a large family, with nine sisters and four brothers although she had no children herself. Of her siblings, she is the only surviving member, something the lucid elderly woman is fully capable of explaining herself although she said it pained her to remember the old days.
These days, Ince can no longer walk and swim like she used to and is looked after by neighbour Sheila Jones, although she still lives alone in her own house.
For her part, Jones said seeing after Ince was a pleasure.
“I live in the area and knew her for years so when she started to get weak, I decided to help. I feel good about it as I love her and she loves me too,” said, Jones, adding that the golden girl had a hearty appetite.
As for the birthday girl, she said: “I feel in and out; sometimes good, sometimes not, but I feel fairly good today and I am happy to see 100. God is good and will take care of us, even until we get old,” she said.
Niles said family members, who also flew in from Canada and England, had plans to hold a small party for Ince. (CA)
