Mabel Downer Yorke may be 100 years old but she has not given up one of her favourite pastimes — reading.

The centenarian can be found reading her Bible at any time of day or night, doing so until she often falls asleep. Apart from her Bible, she also enjoys reading the popular ‘Dear Pastor’ newspaper column and makes commentary on the letters with her granddaughter.

“She reads her Bible 24 hours,” said her daughter Phillis Yorke.

Yorke, who still manages to move around her home and feed herself, said that while she loves reading the Bible, she has no favourite chapters.

“Mi love the all of them,” she said when she was asked about her favourite scripture.

Yorke, popularly known as Ms May or “Sa’May’, has been living in Watt Town, St Ann since she was six years old and is known as a highly spiritual woman who often prophesied over the lives of people and who was often looked to for help when persons are ill.

Her children recalled several instances when children were sick, when pregnant women had difficulty giving birth and even when her own children were sick. Their mother would always know the problem and usually finds the solution.

This would either be the healing bush, olive oil, leaf-of-life plant or simply asking her God to intervene.

“She help a whole heap a people to get better,” her daughter Phyllis recalled.

“She was born for a purpose. Where she get this blessing, I don’t know but she was born with it,” one of Yorke’s sons, George Yorke said as he spoke admirably of his mother.

“Growing up with her, she was born a revival Christian,” he added.

So dedicated was she to her faith that she built her own prayer house near to her home.

It is this deep admiration and love for the centenarian which brought family members from local and overseas destinations to celebrate her birth recently.

Yorke was born on January 5, 1915.

Mabel Yorke, who got married to Phillip Yorke as a young woman, is the mother of 10 children, two of whom have predeceased her. She also has one adopted daughter, 19 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren, and eight greatgreat grandchildren. She is an icon in her family and is usually spoken of with reverence.

“She has made me into a gentleman,” George Yorke said.

At 100 years old, persons marvel at her strength. She walks around her home, goes to the bathroom all alone and when in the right mood, she will recall things from as early as her childhood.

While speaking to the Jamaica Observer, Yorke recalled some of her childhood years attending school.

“I go to school at seven years (old),” she said.

“That time we use to carry big slate and pencil,” she said, suggesting that things have changed significantly over the years, with children now having access to books.

“I leave school at the fifth class,” she went on.

However, while she has fond memories of her education, Yorke remembers the punishment that students had to undergo. She described them as ‘cruel’.

“When you go to school late they put you to stand up and hold one foot,” she recalled.

She also remembers teachers sticking their fingers down children’s throat as a form of punishment for speaking.

Following school, Yorke started farming and did so for many years. She also enjoyed sewing. However, she spent the majority of her time tending to crops.

According to her children, she was always working. While she worked around the house and ensured that her children were well taken care of, her husband was said to play a key role in her well-being.

Yorke’s children believe that it was the way their father treated their mother which has contributed to her long life. They recall those big bowls of goat head soup he would cook for her and the eggs and stout he would make for her, especially when she had just had a baby.

“When he cook the soup he shared a big butter pan full for her,” George Yorke recalled.

Phyllis Yorke also recalled when he cooked a small goat only for their mother.

“That’s why she is strong so,” her daughter stated.

Yorke was also known for her cooking.

“When she cook down a rabbit soup or stew you lick your fingers,” George stated.

Phyllis said that her seasoning comprised only of escallion and thyme, but her meals were delicious.

At 100 years old, there are still some foods that Yorke enjoys. One such is callaloo soup with chicken foot.

“It has more iron than cabbage,” she said of callaloo, which she confessed to having a preference over cabbage.

Yorke also likes barbeque chicken and goat, said Phyllis, who is also her caregiver.