‘Disciplinarian’ Myrtle Dowe celebrates 100

Portmore, St Catherine resident Myrtle Loretta Dowe celebrated her 100th birthday in style on Saturday, July 8, with family and loved ones at the Friday's Entertainerment Complex along Port Henderson Road in the municipality.

"It is mi birthday and I feel very good dat I am here with mi generation, and dem taking care of me," an elated Rowe said. "The truth is that I work very hard to take care of them, a wash clothes so till, but now I am feeling good." It was revealed that Dowe was a very productive individual, who did domestic work for a living.

Dowe was born on July 8, 1923, to parents Alvan and Linette Dowe, both farmers, in Point District, St James. She moved to Portmore, St Catherine, in 1980, to live with her son, one of her 12 children. Dowe, who married once but later divorced, also has scores of grand and great-grandchildren, many of whom turned up to surround her with love on her special day.

"Yes, she lives with us and is a great addition to my family. She is a loving and kind mother and we feel good to have her here at 100 years old," her son Trevorlee Houston said. "My mother is kind, gentle, hard-working, a disciplinarian; she did not spare the rod," Houston said.

Saturday's occasion saw glowing testimonies of the exemplary life of the well-loved centenarian.

"My grandmother has helped to shape my life with the discipline that she instils in us as children," Annissa Daley-Sutheland said. "I remember her as a strict but loving person who would teach us to be honest and respectful, values that I am using with my children." In addition to the kind words, Dowe was also treated to an abundance of food, drinks and desserts from her loved ones.