Good sex, happy marriage - Couple wed for 31 years, advises young lovers to keep things spicy

For nearly 32 years, Wayne Richards and his wife Judieth Miller-Richards, who wed on December 16, 1992, have committed themselves to each other, never wavering in their love.

One may ask: what is the secret to their long and happy marriage? For both 59-year-old high school sweethearts, the answer is simple: honesty, love and good sex.

"If yuh want yuh marriage to break, stop having sex," Judieth told THE STAR, adding that even after three decades, they still prioritise their intimacy and she encourages other couples to do the same.

"As old as your husband is, as long as he is healthy, enuh, if he's sick, that different. But once he has health, sex is important. Women are the ones who easily put it aside, so it's not always an issue for us to give up on it. But it is an issue for the men ... that's why sometimes dem guh run down the young girls dem," Judieth explained.

She also told THE STAR that beyond the intimacy, what has aided the longevity of their marriage is her unconditional love for her husband as well as the guidance of God.

"I am a Christian and it's a lot of prayer that keep us together," Judieth said, adding that, "it's not a perfect marriage."

"We have had a lot of obstacles, but the fact is yuh have to love the person. You cannot go into a marriage because of what the person has. We were both two young persons in love and we didn't have nothing, so we started from scratch," Judieth explained.

Similarly for Wayne, the love he has for his wife has always been his driving force because for him, since the first day he laid his eyes on Judieth at age 11, it was love at first sight.

"Boy, I will never forget the first time I saw her. It was September 1976. I was going to Mile Gully School and mi see her and tell one a mi friend go call that girl fi mi," Wayne said, adding that as time went on, their love blossomed.

"From mi see her mi know she was going to be mi wife. Mi never have nuh doubt inna mi mind, mi just did know because a the love weh mi have fi har," said Wayne, who also credited good communication skills and dedication for the longevity of his marriage.

During their marriage, the Richards, who live in Mile Gully, Manchester, have not only managed to nurture their love but raised two daughters and a son. They have also managed to successfully run three businesses. This, according to Judieth, is because they have always been a team.

"We have always been able to come together and work hard. To have a successful marriage, yuh have to work together, suh yuh earn together. Yuh duh household work together, you do gardening together, you grow the children together," Judieth said.

"It's a togetherness and you will enjoy doing things together, because if it is one-sided or he's doing his thing and you're doing your thing, it will cause the marriage to drift apart," Judieth added.