KINGSTON, Jamaica–The children and grandchildren of 100-year-old, Greenwich Town resident, Othilda Brown, affectionately called ‘Miss Ottey’ are expressing joy and gratitude to God for affording them the privilege of witnessing their matriarch reach such a milestone.

Ms Brown turned 100 on Wednesday. She was born August 13, 1925.

Rosalie Bulli, one of Ms Brown’s 13 children, who was very elated, shared with the Observer some of the more fond memories she had with her mother growing up.

“She was very creative. She made our school bags out of crocus bags. She made our uniforms. We were always neat when going to school and we were never hungry. We would come home for lunch because she couldn’t afford to give us lunch money so she cooked and we had to go for it.

“Mom was very miserable. It wasn’t always easy. My father was like a watchman. He was a loving man and he was always there for us as kids,” said Bulli.

She also shared that her mother has a hearing disability.

“She is known as a rebel and she is not going to change. Long time now the doctor tell me that and now she reach 100. I feel really good to know she has reached 100. It was a hard life she went through. It wasn’t always easy. She has 13 kids. I am the last one and I can tell you about the struggles. I have five kids. She maybe has more than 100 grandchildren. If all her grandchildren and great grandchildren were here, they could not hold inside the yard,” Bulli said.

Andrea Williams, who is another of Ms Brown’s daughters, said she could not thank God enough for allowing her to see her mother still being able to move around at 100 years old. Williams shared that her mother imparted a lot of knowledge to her, which she is grateful for.

“I am very elated and I can’t thank God enough to let me live to see my mother reach 100. Mommy is a warrior empress. She is a very strong woman. I have learned a lot from her. My father died 32 years ago leaving her and she has been alone since that, just with her kids and grand kids. I got little of my cooking from her and a little of the baking. She used to bake. That led me to start doing catering but I had to put it down,” she explained.

Granddaughter Nickolet Brown said she was flabbergasted because she had been praying for her grandma to live to see 100. It was Brown she said who taught her the value of protecting family.

Grandson, Kyle Williams, said he also prayed for Ms Brown to reach 100.

“I am feeling great. I prayed for my grandma to reach this age and even further. Grandma contributed a lot to my life. Growing up in Greenwich Town, for years, my grandma got up and made my tea and breakfast every morning. She would give me lime leaf tea and she made me love cream crackers and butter. I will never forget those days.

“Grandma always told me to stay out of trouble because I am her boo. That’s what she called me. She always tried to keep me in the yard. We got great knowledge from her,” Williams expressed.

Sanya Duckett, a granddaughter of Ms Brown, shared that it was her grandmother who taught her the art of cleanliness.

“My grandmother is very clean. From all 5am she would wake you up and tell you to sweep the yard, clean the bathroom and make sure the kitchen is tidy. It’s a joy to receive that from my grandmother”.

Said said grandma had 13 children and maybe more than 100 grandchildren. She has great grand, great-great grand and great-great-great grand.

“This is the community where she was raised and lived all her life. She is a rebel. From she was young that was in her.

She can’t really hear so well these days and she suffered a stroke about two years ago and that kind a took the speech from her. She goes to the bathroom herself and she walks same way,” Duckett said.

‘Miss Ottey’ at her birthday celebration on Wednesday, having reached 100-years-old. (Photo: Jason Cross)