Sister May fit as a fiddle at 100

It is almost impossible to be in the presence of Gladys 'Sister May' Crossdale and not be upbeat. The quick-witted centenarian will have you rolling over in fits of laughter.

Crossdale, who celebrated her 100th birthday on August 18 is fit as a fiddle, except for a minor vision issue. She walks around her yard unassisted and, when in the mood, she will show off a few dance moves.

Last Saturday, her family and extended family in the Cedar Valley Grove community in St Thomas hosted a bash fit for a queen.

"They give me anything I want because I work hard so anything mi want I should get," she said to much cheers from her loved ones.

All dolled up in a cream dress complemented with red hat and white shoes, the centenarian sat down with THE STAR to share aspects of her 100-year-old life.

Crossdale spent her earlier years in Mavis Bank, St Andrew, and although she was from a very poor family, she enjoyed a happy childhood.

"Some people did just have to wash dem foot and go school without shoes. These last-of-days children dem raise up with legacy. Truck and bus never popular so as children we use to walk up from the hill and come through Mavis Bank and go through Gordon Town and then Papine and it was far but we never mind carrying the load on we head. We usually follow we mother go market and we would sleep in the street while they sell. It was safe dem times man," Crossdale said.

WEDDING BELLS

In the early 1960s, while attending a wedding in St Andrew, Crossdale met Wilburn, the man who would later become her husband. The two got married in 1962.

"The day I met my husband, I was at a wedding and him ride in on a mule. When him see mi him tell mi seh him nah go leave mi and mi go on the mule with him that same day. My first child was for another man, but we were not together. When him hear say mi a talk to Wilburn, him seh him hear say mi a talk to old man because mi husband much older than mi," Crossdale said between laughter.

The Crossdales later relocated to Cedar Valley Grove where she spent most of her life working as a farmer in sections of the Blue Mountains. Their union produced 13 children (four of whom are deceased), 56 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. Wilburn passed away in 1992 and Crossdale said she never re married.

'This is where we make life. Mi work in the hills and go to Seaforth Market go sell. Mi work hard and take care of mi children because I would patch my dress, but make sure that dem well dressed. Mi work hard to mind mi pickney dem because mi nuh wah dem tief and dem come out to something good," she said.

As she danced with a few of her children to Tarrus Riley's She's Royal, one could not help but wonder what gave Crossdale the pep in her step.

"I use to plant coffee in the hills so I would walk more than 10 miles so that was a lot of exercise. Mi also drink whole heap of porridge and soup too," Crossdale said.