Centenarian ‘Sister Gladys’ remembered as a woman of God

The life of centenarian Gladys Maud Richards, otherwise called 'Mama', was celebrated at her service of thanksgiving at the Clear Park Seventh-day Adventist Church in St Catherine on Wednesday.

Friends, family and well-wishers came out in their numbers to celebrate the life of the 101-year-old. In their remembrance, her sisters Ventris Williams and Hazel Cameron said Richards was a godly individual.

"I remember talking to my sister Gladys last week about the good time she gave us when we were young, and I miss not being able to do that now, as she was a good person who was a true Christian," Williams said.

"She was very strict and a woman of God, who spread the Word throughout her lifetime," Cameron said. It was revealed that although Richards only had one biological son, she was a mother to many other persons. One of those individuals, Beverly Melbourne, eulogised Richards as an unsung hero who lived a full life.

"She was my adopted mother, she was a friend, counsellor, and was a great influence in my life," Melbourne said. "She started to adopt children after leaving her work, and so far, about 50 children benefited from her kindness and generosity."

Richards was the first of 14 children born to Alfred and Iona Francis on April 18, 1922, at Red Ground district in St Catherine. In 1955, she was smitten by love and tied the knot with Theophilus Brown, who was a caretaker at the St Jago High School. Both Richards and Brown worked at the institution; Richards stopped in 1989.

In his homily, Pastor Franklyn Brown compared the life of "Sister Gladys" to that of Sarah in the Bible.

"Sister Gladys lived a good and godly life, as I compare her to Sarah, who lived to 137 year old. So it is good that people live a clean and good life," he said. "The greatest support comes from the Lord, who will to stregthen the weak. Therefore, you must acknowledge that He will be with you forever."

He said that even though Richards has died, she made her mark, and therefore she will see God. The pastor said that while mourning is natural, as Israel mourned Moses' death, they should do so in hope.

Richards is survived by her son Leonard, one grandson, other relatives and several adopted children. Her body was interred at the Dovecot Memorial Park.