by Bria King

This country’s latest centenarian, Mary Floretta Jackson nee Ballantyne is sure that she is one of the happiest persons in the world, having been able to celebrate the milestone in the company of her close-knit family.

From left: Owen Jackson (son), Roslyn Mayers, Leslie Compton (son-in-law), St. Elmo Jackson (son), Robert France (son-in-law), Jeannette France (daughter), Kenneth Ballantyne (son), Ingrid Compton (daughter), Andrew Young (grandson), Arleen Jackson (daughter-in-law), Kenya Young (great granddaughter), Myrna Young (daughter), Sheriffa France (grand daughter-in-law) surround centenarian Mary Jackson (seated) earlier this week at her home at Pembroke.

Celebrations began for Jackson, who celebrated her 100th birthday on August 18, 2022, last Sunday with a thanksgiving service at the Kingstown Gospel Hall.

“I was surprised to see one side of the Kingstown Gospel Hall was full with family and friends and I’m so happy. I thank God for the life he has given me and I thank and praise him for every single day of my life,” the God-fearing woman told SEARCHLIGHT during an exclusive interview two days before her milestone birthday.

Jackson was born in Layou in 1922 to Benjamin and Aida Ballantyne and she had two brothers and two sisters.

She noted that two of her brothers and a sister have passed, while her youngest sister lives in a home in Miami.

As a little girl, she attended the Layou Government School, which at the time was situated opposite the Anglican Church at Velox Corner.

The centenarian said her days growing up involved going out on mornings to help their father, a fisherman, pull up fish pots and take fish home for breakfast.

Centenarian, Mary Floretta Jackson nee Ballantyne (seated) with her first child Jeannette France

She also recalls being very busy doing work around the house before going off to school.

“I had to clean and iron and things like that so I was very happy growing up…” Jackson said.

As an adult, she worked as a seamstress, and was known for outfitting entire wedding parties.

“..In those days, you’d sew for a bride and bridesmaid and the children; you’ll charge them about $20 and you would get $10 and up to now the $10 not paid,” she quipped.

The 100-year-old woman told SEARCHLIGHT that she became a mother at a young age, having two of her seven children before moving to Aruba for some time.

It was in Aruba that she met her husband, and had two more children before moving back to St Vincent, where she had the remainder of her children and lived in Kingstown Park.

Her children are: Jeanette France, Althea Commissiong (deceased), Dr Kenneth Ballantyne, Owen Jackson, St Elmo Jackson, Mryna Young and Ingrid Compton.

“I bring them up to fear God and anything that happened to them, good or bad, I was the first person to know and I make them to know that you can come to me with anything that happens to you, whether it’s good or bad,” Jackson said.

“…I tell you, I had seven earnest and very, very good children. They never give me any kind of trouble. I must say I alone bring them up because my husband used to sail with the National Bulk and for three years, he didn’t come home…but I was very happy bringing them up because they are very obedient children and you can see that today because they are still around me.”

Jackson now lives in Pembroke with her daughter, Myrna Young and told SEARCHLIGHT that she wants for nothing.

She also gave “thanks and praise” for her daughter’s care and she claimed that Myrna “cares about me more than I care about myself”.

The Pembroke resident has 20 grandchildren, one of whom passed away; 46 great grandchildren and eight great, great grandchildren.

At 100 years old, Jackson has no ailments and still has exceptional eye sight.

Her daily routine involves tending to her small kitchen garden on fair days, doing word search puzzles and reading her Bible or a Christian book.

The happiness Jackson feels on her 100th birthday is marred only slightly by the absence of her nephew and former governor general, Sir Frederick Ballantyne — a man she refers to as “my special doctor”.

“On Thursday, when I’m 100 years old, I would really really miss him because he comes to visit me…everyday if I’m sick. He’s not like a nephew, he’s like a son,” she said.

“He was my brother’s only son. Sometimes I lay in my bed and cry because he’s not here to celebrate with me, but otherwise, I’m very, very happy.”

She told SEARCHLIGHT that the secret to her long life was that she rarely fell ill.

The centenarian recalls her longest hospital visit being one week, when she apparently had a heart attack.

But she noted that her nephew, Sir Frederick Ballantyne made sure that she received the best care.

“He said one time — he told me because I had high blood pressure…you don’t have any business, don’t study people’s business and I hope the young people take that in their head. And I put that in my head up to this day. I don’t study any kind of business. So I read my book, I do my puzzle, I get something to eat and I’m very very happy,” Jackson said.

All of Jackson’s children are presently in St Vincent to celebrate their mother’s birthday.

One of Mryna Young’s fond memories of her mother involved her reading Literature books and relaying the important pieces of information to her brothers because they didn’t like to read.

Her mother’s ability to do this extremely well ensured that all her brothers passed their English exams at school.

Her son, Dr Kenneth Ballantyne attributed the family’s spiritual indoctrination to his mother, who made sure that they attended church multiple times every Sunday.

“…I think it’s moulded us and has kept us together because we have that very strong grounding morally. When I see young people doing certain things, I know I couldn’t do that; even now, and I wouldn’t say certain things in front of my mother that I see certain people saying in front of their mother,” he said, adding that they have a very close family.

Jeannette France, Jackson’s first child agreed with her brother, and added that their mother always allowed them to make their own decisions.

Andrew Young, one of Jackson’s 20 grandchildren also praised the matriarch’s ability to “raise all her children and the majority of her grandchildren”.

“Family was the most important thing,” he said.

St Elmo Jackson, another of Jackson’s sons said that “we know someday she’ll have to leave us but we never think about that because she’s so healthy. Her faculties are all there; it’s unbelievable that someone who is 100 years old is in this health”.

“…I can’t believe I’m 100,” Jackson told SEARCHLIGHT as she chuckled thoughtfully.

Sunday’s thanksgiving service was enough celebration for Jackson. But her large family engaged in a celebratory luncheon yesterday, where the birthday girl dressed up and attended as the guest of honour.