Eliza Cooper credits faith in God for long life

At 102 years old, St Thomas centenarian Eliza Cooper has a mind as sharp as a razor, and will mention in any conversation that it has been her faith in God that has helped her to sustain long life.

The devout Christian, who was born on June 3, 1922, was visited by the Lyssons-based Sunshine Senior Citizens Club at her cosy home perched in the cool hills of Beckford Town, on Wednesday.

"God bless mi, mi join mi church. I'm in the Methodist Church right now," said Cooper, noting also that she still partakes in communion. Cooper has been baptised since age nine, and was a member of the Baptist Church before becoming a Methodist. With her unwavering faith in God, she expressed concern that younger generations are not taking the Church seriously and do not fear God, bemoaning that the Church has "gone right down now".

Still, she expressed gratitude for the life she has lived and her enduring mental strength. She easily listed the names of her seven children, the many grandchildren and countless great-grandchildren. When asked about her diet and to list some of the foods she enjoys, Cooper said quite sharply, "Everything!", while making the point that she only wants the assurance that the food is "cooked good". Though her eyesight is now gone, she said that she has "lost no screws" and her mind remains intact.

Cooper was one of two seniors visited by the Sunshine Senior Citizens Club. President, Marlene McPherson, said these visits are intended to lift the spirits of seniors within the reach of the club.

"Ms Cooper is one of our shut-ins and we did not get to go to her during the Christmas season because we went to other persons, and we know she is properly taken care of. So we delayed until now. [This visit is] to let her know that we still remember her, because she always asks us to come back and visit," McPherson told JIS News. The club presented Cooper with gifts, lifted her up in prayer, and helped her sing one of her favourite hymns, Near the Cross.

"When you reach a certain age, quite a number of your friends and relatives die. [We want] to let them feel that they still belong and also to let her know that we are here for her," McPherson explained about the importance of the visit.

On Cooper's Christian faith, McPherson said, "When you know the Lord and you have been in a relationship with Him, the Lord has a way of sustaining you, not only physically but spiritually. The spiritual and the physical work together, and we see that in her life."

The Sunshine Senior Citizens Club is more than 20 years old and is part of an islandwide network of clubs catering to the nation's seniors. These clubs are governed by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security.