Prospect resident celebrates one hundredth birthday

If you want to live to be 100 or beyond, the secret is to put your faith in God – this according to Florence Morgan who celebrated her milestone birthday on Wednesday, October 29 at her Prospect residence.

The centenarian, who used to be a regular member of the congregation at the Gospel Hall Church, said that throughout her life, her belief in God {{more}}has kept her going through the hard times and the good.

“Through Him I’m here,” she asserted. “If I didn’t believe in Him, I couldn’t be here!”

Morgan and her late husband Helon Morgan married in 1934, and had five children – Fred Morgan (deceased), Reuben Morgan, Winston Morgan, Sybil Williams and Anselma Rose. She has 11 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.

As a child, Morgan grew up in both Kingstown and Brighton, having moved to the latter region when her stepmother took her in, along with a sibling.

“My father was a policeman, and you know how policeman bright!” she chuckled. “Out Brighton we were able to go to school and go to church.”

She further recalled that apart from playing with her friends and siblings, she spent much of her childhood helping out around the house by washing clothing at the river and collecting firewood.

“I was glad to do it,” she said.

Aside from being bedridden, being slightly hard of hearing and having diminished vision, Morgan is in relatively good health. In addition to this, she is still of sound mind – reading the newspapers on a weekly basis.

Her children described her as a deeply religious woman, who, although she was strict, was extremely protective of her family and generous to a fault.

Winston Morgan, one of her sons, said: “She was a very independent woman, but also very generous to those in need.”

“She taught us to respect others, and we took that through to our families,” added her daughter Sybil Williams.

Also present to celebrate Morgan’s milestone with her were Minister of Health Clayton Burgin and Girlyn Miguel, Minister of Education, who have both benefitted from the centenarian’s generosity on many occasions.

They both congratulated her on reaching 100 years of age, and wished her continued health and strength. Burgin pointed out that over the years, the Prospect/Ratho Mill/Brighton area has produced several centenarians and joked that should young people want to live long, they should purchase property there.

Also present was the Governor General, Sir Frederick Ballantyne, who brought greetings on his own behalf and that of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.(JSV)