PORTLAND, Jamaica — Centenarian David Williams turned 103 on July 13 and was celebrated by family and friends last Sunday at Tom’s Hope where he was hailed as a humble, loving, caring man who still preaches in the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Hailed as “Bro D”, “Papa” and “Elder Williams”, the senior was full of smiles as community members and family expressed their love despite the  threat of  rain at the beautifully decked lawn at Tom’s Hope, a few miles from where he resides in Fellowship.

Decked in his blue suit and felt hat “Bro D”, after alighting from the car, held onto his walker, stepped to the elevated stage with little help, and sat in his chair as he was welcomed and congratulated for reaching another milestone.

“Today we are here celebrating his one-hundred-and-three birthday. He is a legend, a father, grandfather, great-grandfather, friend, church brother, Elder Williams, Brother D and there is a lot of titles but to me is ‘Papa’, ‘I love you Papa,” his granddaughter Venice Grant said as she shared her grandfather’s historical journey.

Observer Online caught up with Williams at home a few days before with his twin daughters Edna Blackstock and Elizabeth Foster.

Smiling as she recalled fond memories, Blackstock shared “My father is so blessed he reads, still preaches and checks his own money, he can check up a million dollars in a minute. He has his full mind, takes no medication, he is not sick, goes to the bathroom by himself. If no one is here he will take his food and warm it up in the microwave and feed himself.”

Bro D says he eats ground provisions to keep healthy.

“I eat dasheen, breadfruit, yam and I don’t eat flour and banana, only if it ripe. I eat a lot of fruits also…pineapple, apple, mango, star fruit, guava and so on. I drink a lot of water and I don’t like to eat out and drink out of a bottle.”

The senior is encouraging youths to keep well and healthy and have faith for longevity.

“The first thing is to acquaint themselves to the Lord and the Holy Spirit is our teacher. He’s watching over us with tender care and there is no time that he separates from us and he has a written pen of our character so we can’t dodge from Him, the Holy Spirit. When you fall in love with Him you have something to tell someone…I have one prayer and one song I sing every time, ‘Lord In The Morning’ and the prayer Psalm 23,” he said.

At the age of 20, Williams went overseas to fight in World War 2 but was fortunate to be stationed at a factory making walkers for individuals needed help.

After the war, he worked a short time washing dishes and later returned to Jamaica where he bought lands and ventured into farming. He later built a house, got married and started his family.

Community member Noel Golding hailed him as a friend and a good father, while Hensley McKenzie, an ex-correctional officer, noted that he “takes care of everyone and he has cared for me from before I born”.

— Everard Owen