By Cecelia Campbell Livingston
Eleata Richards has lost all of her siblings and three of her four children, but as she celebrated her 102nd birthday on April 14, she declared the goodness of God as she reflected on her life.
Known to everyone in her community of Victoria in Northern Clarendon as Aunt Lee, the centenarian’s personal mantra continues to be ‘little is much when the Lord is in it.”
Aunt Lee took care of her children by taking on several jobs. In her younger years, she worked as a domestic helper, a seamstress, and a farmer. She also baked.
Her son, Dr. Sylvanus Thompson, cannot forget his mother’s sacrifices. He made sure to fly in from Canada to enjoy the special day with her and ensured Aunt Lee was pampered and catered to. He is grateful for another year with the person who has motivated him throughout his life.
In describing his mom as “a woman who has lived a long and fruitful life, filled with faith and devotion to God,” Dr. Thomas said she has likely seen many changes in the world and in her own life, but her unwavering faith has kept her grounded and hopeful throughout it all.
“As a mother, she has undoubtedly played an important role in the lives of her four children, several grandchildren, siblings, and other relatives, passing down her wisdom and values to the next generation. Her legacy is one of love, faith, and resilience, and she is a true inspiration to all who know her,” he said.
He said she instilled in him and his now-deceased siblings the value of education as a means to ensure independence and make useful contributions in life.
“Being loving and respectful to each other were important lessons that we inherited and benefited from,” he told the Freedom Come Rain Newspaper.
There are a lot of memories from his interactions with her, but what stands out the most now are the sacrifices his mother made to ensure their educational endeavours were experiences that cannot be forgotten.
“Personally, none of what I [have] achieved professionally and the resulting global recognition would have been possible without those selfless sacrifices,” said Dr. Thompson, who is now a retired public health professional and a Global Jamaica Diaspora Council Member. He is a former Jamaica Diaspora Advisory Board member for Canada.
“In our community, just a mention that I am Aunt Lee’s son is enough to gain admiration, respect, and acceptance from anyone. A trip with her to England, including a visit to Buckingham Palace, is probably one of my most treasured and memorable experiences,” he continued.
Aunt Lee, who had 13 siblings and was born to Charles and Aroda Ellis, credits her longevity to living a simple Christian life with a supportive family.
Making it to 102 is a milestone that Aunt Lee celebrates.
“I am feeling thankful to God, family, and friends,” she said.
Cognizant of the challenges being faced by today’s generation of young people, the solution for Aunt Lee in “bringing them back in line” is to return to the old landmark of church.
She also implored young people to “live well and have manners.”
Aunt Lee has been a Christian for over 70 years and has spent her active years as a committed member of the church. She never missed an opportunity to serve or to impart a word of cheer or encouragement whenever it was needed.
Unable to go to church now, she still treasures the hymns of Zion, and from time to time, her caretaker and niece Audrey would hear her contentedly humming songs such as “Precious Lord.” It is not unusual to hear them sing together.
Sharing what she can now recall, Aunt Lee said some of her fondest memories revolved around visiting with family, including her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as going to church conventions.
These days, she has very few regrets about her life and how she lived it. If there is one thing that brings sadness, it is the loss of all her siblings and three of her four children. But the smile lights up her face once more as she thinks about the fact that God has given her another year to enjoy her son, grandson, great-grandson, and friends.