102 and lonely - Centenarian Ms Mama longs to see only child

The road leading to Tydixon winds through quiet hills, where the only sounds are the rustling of trees, the distant barking of a dog, and the occasional laughter of children playing. At the far edge of this rural St Catherine community in a small, weathered home sits a woman whose presence carries more than a century of history.

Imogene Zipporah Clunnie, known affectionately as 'Ms Mama' or 'Chicken', will turn 102 years old this Sunday. Despite her age, she remains remarkably independent, still cooking her own meals, washing her clothes, and attending church as often as she can.

Yet, beneath her resilience, loneliness lingers. Her only child has not visited in two years.

"Him nuh come about two years now, since mi last see him," she said, her voice soft but weighted with emotion.

"Mi raise him after his father dead. Him nuh have nobody else except me. Mi use to visit him, but him nuh visit me. Him supposed to visit me, don't it?"

Though she has lived in Tydixon all her life, her home is distant from the heart of the community, leaving her feeling even more isolated. While neighbours greet her warmly as they pass by, the absence of close family support is undeniable.

Her modest dwelling, with peeling paint and red floors, speaks of better days long past. The physical distance from the community's centre, combined with the ageing structure's shortcomings, has made daily life more challenging and has amplified her vulnerability in old age.

For years, community members have tried to secure better living conditions for her, a home closer to family and support.

"She's not comfortable where she is," said Pastor Landell Sharpe of the Tydixon Church of God, who, along with his wife, Jenny, helps care for her.

"She lives alone in a space far from family, and at her age, that is not ideal. My wife and I have been reaching out to Poor Relief, even contacting the councillor from the St Ann division, to see if she can get assistance for a better home."

Tydixon lies in the Lluidas Vale Division in the St Catherine Municipal Corporation. Ms Mama's house is close to the St Catherine and St Ann border.

Despite their efforts, no confirmation of help has come.

For now, Jenny and her nephew, Austine 'Butty' Harriage, do what they can.

"She sleeps by me in the evening, and I take her back home in the morning," said Harriage, who owns a grocery shop in the community. "Mi give her food from mi shop. Mi can't leave her to fend for herself like that."

Sharpe's wife has cared for Ms Mama for 17 years. She ensures that she gets to the doctor every three months for her hypertension and diabetes check-ups, and steps in whenever urgent care is needed.

"She has her medication, and we make sure she keeps up with her health," Jenny said.

Her days are meticulously planned around managing her health, a strict routine of medication and doctor visits.

Despite the challenges, Ms Mama's humour remains sharp. When asked about her dinner plans, she simply shrugged. "Mi nuh know, but Jenny buy mi a piece a yam."

"Mi love food, as long as it is food. Nuh food nuh special now," she joked.

Born and raised in Ewarton, Ms Mama spent her early years under the strict care of her grandfather before leaving to join her parents in Tydixon.

"Mi run lef deh 'cause dem woulda kill mi wid work," she recalled with a laugh.

She later worked at the Worthy Park Estate, from which she now receives her pension. Hard work has always been at the centre of her life.

"Mi use to plant mi field and grow mi ground provision," she said, with her hands, worn from decades of farming, resting in her lap.

Still, she managed to find moments of joy, though dancing was never one of them.

"Mi never go dance. One time mi go one dance gate, and to how mi see dem a dance, mi nuh go back," she said, laughing as she attempted to mimic the moves she saw that night.

Reflecting on the past, she speaks of how much the world has changed.

"Inna my days of growing up, is not like now. It different, the way how dis world run different," she said, shaking her head. She reminisced about a time when respect, morals, and security meant something different than they do today.

As Sunday's milestone birthday nears, there are no grand celebrations planned. But Ms Mama remains grateful for life.

Her secret to longevity? "Is the mercy of God. Is God keeping us, not we keeping ourselves?"