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There's no stopping Miss Mabel

Savanna-la-mar:

CONVERSING WITH MABEL Adina Bramwell Perry does not give the impression that she is 101 years old. Although she is confined to a wheelchair and is unable to see, Perry's mental faculties are still intact.

In fact one of her sons, Cecil Perry, who is the president of the United Kingdom Union of Seventh-Day Adventists, described her as "Somebody who does not forget anything."

Perry was born on December 6, 1902, to Ellen Brown and William Bramwell, in Ginger Hill, Malvern, St Elizabeth. However, her birth was not recorded until January 6, 1903.

She also lived in Hatfield, Manchester, where she attended elementary school. Upon leaving elementary school she returned to her place of birth, Malvern, to seek employment but was not successful.

However, while she was living in Malvern she met some women from Westmoreland who sold at the market on weekends. As a result of the relationship she developed with these women, she was able to get a job as a babysitter with a Miss Forrester.

It was during this time that she met Joseph Perry, whom she would later marry. After working with Miss Forrester, she was able to secure a new job at a guest house, owned and operated by a Gladys Henriques on Beckford Street in Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland.

According to her, because of her commitment and dedication to her duties she was promoted to the position of manager of the guest house and remained so for many years.

However, as she began to have children, she quit the job to spend time with her offsprings. During this time, she resorted to selling hats to help support her family.

Because of how successful the venture was Mrs. Perry was able to open a dry goods store dubbed 'Little Wonder' by residents. The profits from this venture, the centenarian said, went to pay the school fees for her children.

She said it was the grocery store that financed her son Cecil Perry at West Indies College, now the Northern Caribbean University, and her daughter Veronica, who was a student at The Manning's School in the parish.

The centenarian, who is a member of the Savanna-La-Mar Adventist Church, said when she was in good health she would always go to the Savanna-La-Mar hospital to witness.

Witnessing at the hospital was a challenge for her as she was asked several times to leave the hospital by nurses and porters. But this was no deterrent to her as she was relentless in her effort to give them the message from the Bible.

Recently the Savanna-La-Mar Adventist Church had a special service for her at the church, her having batted so well, and to recognise the contribution she had made to the church.