‘Mama Lewi’ Farrell celebrates in grand style

Amaza “Mama Lewi” Farrell celebrated her 100th birthday last Friday, in grand style at the Thompson Home, surrounded by relatives, friends and Governor-General Sir Frederick Ballantyne.{{more}}

Farrell’s granddaughter, Indritch Greaves, told SEARCHLIGHT that she could not have imagined that her grandmother would attain the age of 100.

“My only sadness today is that her memory is not as good as I would have loved, because she doesn’t get to remember all of the things and experiences that I’ve had with her.”

Greaves said she is, however, grateful that her grandmother

is alive and in “pretty good health.”

Greaves, along with her mother Isola Greaves, returned home from Houston, Texas, where they reside, to celebrate with Amaza.

Isola is the second of Farrell’s two children. Amaza’s son Grafton died in 1991.

Isola described her mom as a very religious individual who “lives for her God”.

She also revealed that one of the secrets to her mother’s long life was her diet.

“She ate healthy. Not much eating out or not much restaurant food; always home cooked food,” Isola revealed.

Added to her strong religious ways, Isola also said her mom was a very generous person who always went out of her way to assist others.

During her younger years, Mama Lewi migrated from St Vincent to Curacao, where she resided for twenty years. She then travelled to the United States and worked as a nurse helper and provided for her family.

“She was always there for all of us, children, grandchildren, and to everybody she was a very loving and thoughtful woman, my mother,” Isola added.

Meanwhile, Sir Frederick said it’s always a pleasure to be a part of the celebrations of a centenarian.

He commended Mama Lewi’s children for the love that they’ve shown to her over the years and, according to the Governor-General, Farrell’s achievement serves as an example that elderly persons survive only because of the special care they receive from their children and other relatives.

Mama Lewi’s gifts for the day included a bouquet of flowers, presented by the Governor-General, a pink and white cake with her name, as well as a birthday card and a letter from President of the United States of America, Barack Obama.(AA)