Esther Jackson - Tashieka Mair

western bureau

Esther Victoria Jackson did not expect to live long. However, she surpassed her expectations when she celebrated her 100th birthday last year.

At 100, Jackson still has a sharp memory, strong voice and an awesome sense of humour that would make even the grinch laugh, if he were lucky enough to meet her.

Jackson was born in Miles Town, Hanover to parents Joshua Jackson and Mercian Johnson. At age nine, she moved to live in Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland. She recalled how strict and protective her parents were and how they taught her to fear God.

Protected

"I only love (church) service. It was school, then church, then home, that was the routine," she recalled. "Mi neva grow let go; mi born under perfect protection, dem never let mi go like animal."

The centenarian is the youngest of three children for her parents and is the only one still alive. Like her parents, she also had three children, one of whom is deceased.

Sing and give jokes

Jackson has eight grandchildren and is a great-grandmother to 15. According to her daughter and caregiver, Pearline Johnson, she loves to sing and give jokes.

Jackson never married and recalled that as a a child she spent Christmas at home playing 'doll party' instead of going out, as her parents never allowed it. This was never a problem for her though, as she believed her parents raised her right by not letting her 'go loose'.

She also recalled how much she loved to eat cabbage, callaloo and chicken back with ground provisions and dumplings.

Straight and narrow

"I woulda eat some callaloo right now with me chicken back. Now dem a talk bout $100 a pound fi chicken foot like nobody deh eat fowl foot again."

She said that Jesus has kept her thus far and that while she is still alive, she would teach the youth to walk the 'straight and narrow' and prepare themselves for his coming.