 |
| Birthday girl, Lilian Adina Jeffers on 108th Birthday |
Charlestown Nevis (February 12, 2007) -- Lilian Adina Jeffers affectionately known as Ida continues to bat well. On Saturday February 10th, 2007, she celebrated her 108th birthday with a special thanksgiving celebration at the St. Georges/St. John Senior Citizens Nursing Home in Gingerland.
Family, friends, caregivers, officials from the Ministries of Community Development and the Gender and Social Affairs on Nevis and St.Kitts were on hand to celebrate with Mrs. Jeffers.
Prior to the celebration, the Department of Information spoke to with George Jeffers, the youngest son of the celebrant who shared with us what he thought may have contributed to his mother's longevity.
"She used to burn Kuisha (acacia) wood, and she liked to her it crack when it was burning. She told me that she would eat it too, the charcoal, so I think that is what may have filtered her blood because up to today she doesn't have any kind of sickness&no high blood pressure, no cholesterol, diabetes or any of that sort. So I think the charcoal is the one that actually filter her blood. All of her children, we are all still alive and we don't have any high pertension, so I think we inherited it from her", he said.
 |
| (Sitting) Son- George Jeffers, Lilian "Ida" Jeffers and stooping Canon, Father Alson B. Percival. Standing: Mrs Clara Walters, Director St. George/St. John Senior Citizens Home and Grandson, Carlisle Queeley. |
Mrs Jeffers who is originally from Bachelor's Hall in Hanley's Road, Gingerland, moved to Brick kiln in St. James Parish with her husband where she lived and worked. The mother of 12 is now a resident of the senior citizens nursing home, which was founded by Canon Father Alson B. Percival.
During the celebration, Canon Percival said that from dialoguing with Ida over the years she referred to the things she ate "the breadfruit, the banana, the potato, the fish and the fish water and the meat that didn't have all this chemical.
She ate the pure things from the ground", he said.
The Reverend also took the opportunity to issue some words of advice to those present at the ceremony.~~adz:Right~~
"Let us take care of this we have, watch what you eat, from the time you reach 40, stop eat certain things, stop drink certain things, exercise, get up little earlier, go for a walk, drink plenty water, leave the sugar, leave the salt, and I would tell you that like sister Jeffers, you will be experiencing the reason of strength. We have been taking care of her for the past years and we are proud to do so. Our motto is "now that they have served, let us serve them:"
May God bless us as we continue to take care of the lady and may God bless her and anoint her".
Mrs Jeffers whose live spans over three centuries was born on February 10, 1899
