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This island’s newest centenarian Marguerita ‘Rita’ Payne shared a special toast with her great-grandson Kristan Payne and granddaughter, Juliet Payne, who all celebrated their birthday on Christmas Day.

‘Rita’ still going strong

Reaching the age of 100 is a celebration in itself. However, turning 100 on Christmas Day is even more joyous.  
 
This was the case for Marguerita ‘Rita’ Payne of Charles Rowe Bridge, St. George, who celebrated the milestone surrounded by family and friends with a luncheon held in her honour at Thorpes Cottage on Friday. 
 
While she didn’t receive the traditional visit from the Governor General, Ms. Payne, who is still going strong, was very happy to be called on by retired Member of Parliament for St. George North Gline Clarke, new MP Senator Toni Moore, as well as Senator Rev. John Rogers, Priest-in-charge at St. George Parish Church. 
 
“Today, I feel very happy and once you live in the Lord you would always be happy and nice. I thank the Lord that I live to see it…I feel very happy to have my family here and I feel very happy to see that I lived so long and that they care about me and there are with me,” Ms. Payne, a devout Anglican expressed.  
 
Lynette Callendar, the first granddaughter of Ms. Payne, shared with reporters that her grandmother, who is in good health, outlived her only two sons and is the loving grandmother of 16 and great-grandmother of many.  
 
She said that Ms. Payne worked as a janitor throughout her working life, “She has worked tirelessly for all the years that I have known her. She was a janitor at St George Girls’ school and then she became the janitor at St George Primary School”. 
 
“Growing up she was very strict, but she was always a very loving and caring grandmother,” Callendar said, also recalling that one of her grandmother’s favourite past times was going to the Garrison with friends to watch the races and even place a few bets.  
 
“She drinks a coke every day, she eats pork, and she eats ground food. She is still very strong and her doctor, Dr Karen Bynoe, is very proud of her – Gran has not had a cold in over 30 years. The last time we took her to the hospital was because her heart rate was not regular, but that was because of medication. But she is in very good health and in good spirits.” 
 
Senator Moore, pleasantly surprised by Ms. Payne’s still youthful-looking appearance, said she had difficulty identifying the centenarian on entering the room. 
 
“She looks so young” she said of Ms. Payne, who was looking fashionable in a blue skirt suit and pearls.  
 
“This is a special occasion for the Payne family. It is good to be here, my first Christmas in St. George North and celebrating on such an occasion – a 100th birthday. And when I got in here, I noted that it was the first occasion that I’m seeing the lady of the day, and I was looking around the room wondering where the centenarian was…I wish her longer life and wish her good health to enjoy her beautiful family.” (TL) 

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