HIV is the last thing that Ann Terry had to think about when she was a young adult and that’s because Ms. Terry was born over a hundred years ago! On November fifteenth she turned one hundred and one years old. Today the occasion was celebrated with a special birthday party at the family’s residence on Berkeley Street. 7NEWS was among the guests invited to the gathering.
Jacqueline Godwin,
Did you expect to live this long?
Ann Terry, 101 Years Old
“No I never did.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
So the good Lord has been good to you?
Ann Terry,
“Yes and I used to take care of myself and I was never ill mannered to my mother and old people is a thing that I always have manners for them and I never left my religion, my church.”
Sharon Pollack, Helpage Belize
“First we thought 100 and then we go 101 and then we went up to 105 and we have Isabel now and quite a couple people at the home that are now over the 100 and it is unbelievable. Definitely it looks like the medication or their learning not to stress, I don’t know what it is.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
This has certainly become a tradition with Helpage actually helping the members to celebrate, what does this mean for the members?
Sharon Pollack,
“Oh they enjoy it and they look forward to it. In days gone by they used to get a letter from the Queen and I don’t think they are getting that anymore but especially our members look forward to it and really the other members, it is such an example for the other members to know that they can live to be a hundred or everybody. She is blind but she is still able to help herself once she is guided and that is wonderful to show that even being blind, and she could see a little bit up to last year.”
Ann Terry,
“I don’t have no sickness. All I have is that I am painful and the doctor says it is age. I don’t have no blood pressure, no nothing nothing like that. All I have to worry me is I am painful but he only can give me something to relieve me but they coming back.”
Son of Ann Terry,
“I can’t miss nothing. I only have to thank God for the age she has, that’s all because right now I tell you the truth that I expect my mom to die any minute. So that’s it.”
Ann Terry,
“For my health and strength and God’s blessing and say my rosary. I get but I can’t read because I can’t see anything. I know I have a piece of paper in my hand but I don’t know. I does used to work washing, ironing, cook, clean house, and so I didn’t have time for that but I can crochet, I can mark, I do handwork.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
Did you expect your mom to live this long?
Son of Ann Terry,
“Well I can’t say. I’ve told you already it is the old man up there that controls that and that’s why I can’t say that. I don’t know what time he will cut out.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
It looks like good genes run in your family because you turn 76 only yesterday and you look like you are still full of a lot of energy.
Son of Ann Terry,
“Well yes because I don’t have no kind of sickness or pain or nothing and I am still working.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
How your mom, she suffers from any illnesses?
Son of Ann Terry,
“No, only old age pain, nothing else.”
Ann Terry,
[Humming] “I want to go to heaven. I don’t know how soon it will be. My saviour has made me a promise to send down an angel for me. Lord I know, Lord I know that his blood cleanses me.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
Well Ann one thing I know, the Good Lord has not only blest you with longevity but with a good voice.”
Ann Terry,
“You think I have a good voice?”
Jacqueline Godwin,
You have a great voice. Happy birthday Miss Ann, enjoy it.
Ann Terry,
“Okay.”
