Centenarian provides solutions for today’s shattered families
Looking at the behaviours of today’s children, Ena Ashley Bartley will tell you there is a missing element in their upbringing. Reflecting on the days when she raised her six children, Sister, as she is fondly known in her community of Goshen, Mocho, said discipline was a key factor. She ensured she instilled moral values and did not joke when it came to maintaining discipline.
Commenting on the children of today, her pet peeve is that “kids just don’t have any manners these days and are too out there and not focused on education.”
“We were sheltered as kids, very domesticated, had to be home on time from school, could not visit anyone’s home, and no one, especially males, could be around her girl children. No spanking, but a firm voice or look sent a strong message. We were easy to raise, though, and very respectful to adults,” she shared with Freedom Come Rain.
The problem can be easily fixed, Sister said, by making church attendance a family event. Very active in her church at Goshen Church of Christ, Sister gave freely of her time and finances, raised funds to purchase chairs, and got her son to cut the church yard.
“More young people need to go to church; this is where they are groomed,” was her response when questioned about raising children in the correct way.
On Sunday, February 8, the community members, friends and staff from the Four Paths Primary School, her six children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren all gathered on the decorated grounds at her home in Goshen to celebrate her milestone.
Sister looked every bit the queen she was being hailed as: glowing, poised, lifting her drink with steady hands, as she quietly embraced the love of generations gathered in her honour.
Born Ena Ashley in White Chapel, she was raised in a Christian home that laid the foundation for a life anchored in faith and service. She later joined her husband-to-be in Pleasant Valley before settling in Goshen, Mocho, where she has lived for decades and became a pillar of the community. She was happily married to Melbourne Bartley until his passing in 1997.
Sister’s daughter, Dr. Annette Bartley, in reminiscing on her upbringing, said book reading was a priority. “Go and read your book!” was a popular phrase in the house. No wonder her siblings all embraced education and are today contributing in various ways to society.
While she is the biological mother of six, those who know Sister, insisted her maternal reach extended far beyond her household. For 36 years, Sister was a familiar fixture at the gate of Four Paths Primary School, where she sold school supplies and “suck suck” to students. Long before the term “community mother” became fashionable, she was exactly that — offering guidance, watching over children, and sometimes providing a listening ear or a helping hand.
At home, Sister was generous with her farm produce, which included coconut, ackee, coffee, pear, mangoes, pineapple and bananas, which she shared with neighbours and anyone in need. Many in Goshen remember being able to stop by for food, advice or simple encouragement. She was, and remains, a quiet counsellor and giver.
Sister’s primary job was being a homemaker to her children, as she devoted her time to raising them. When they got older, she became a vendor, continuing until the remarkable age of 88. In addition to her sales at Four Paths Primary, she sold ice, asham and suck suck from her home. Work, for Sister, was a means of caring for family and serving others.
When asked about the most important lesson she has learned in 100 years, her response reflects the Scriptures that have guided her life: “It is more blessed to give than to receive,” and “Blessed are the peacemakers.” For her, longevity is not merely about years lived but about how those years are spent.
She credits her long life to simple but powerful principles: eating healthy foods such as callaloo and green bananas for breakfast; fish with rice and peas for dinner; drinking coconut water and coffee; walking regularly; loving her neighbours; and, above all, maintaining the fear of God.
“Love thy neighbour as thyself,” she says. “Love each other and help them when you can.”
Among her sweetest memories are visits from her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren — living proof that her investment in family continues to multiply. Their presence around her is perhaps the greatest testimony to her life’s work.
Give Back Jamaica Foundation recently presented her with a humanitarian plaque for her lifelong service while a congratulatory 100 years plaque was also bestowed on her by the Government of Jamaica.
At 100 years old, Ena Ashley “Sister” Bartley stands as more than a centenarian. She is a matriarch, a church worker, a vendor, a farmer, a disciplinarian, a counsellor and a community mother. In Goshen and beyond, her life tells a story of service rooted in faith and strengthened by love.
And as she sat regally on her special day — steady, smiling, surrounded by generations — one truth rang clear: she is, indeed, royal.