Ms Ina celebrates her centenary
(CNS Local Life): Ina Victoria Connor, who recently turned 100, was celebrated by family and friends last week, and presented with a birthday note from Governor Martyn Roper this week. The East End matriarch celebrated her centenary, Friday, 1 February, with cake, candles and cheer with family, friends and senior government officials at Sunrise Cottage residential home.
Ms Ina was feted by the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and senior politicians at the facility in East End, said a government press release.
The event, arranged by the DCFS and her family, was conducted in the residential home and under cover outside, and began with live music from the East End Kitchen Band. More than 50 people attended to help Ms Ina usher in her milestone birthday, which formally opened with a prayer by Rev. Godfrey Meghoo.
Birthday greetings in the form of short speeches were given by her longtime acquaintances: the district’s MLA, Arden McLean, and Speaker of the House McKeeva Bush. Both said Ms Ina was a strong Christian lady with an unshakeable faith that had seen her through life’s trials and tribulations. They added that having reached the milestone was “the reward for a life well-lived”, stated the press release.
Variously described as God-fearing, a strict disciplinarian, a loving and supportive mother, sibling, grandmother, great grandmother, great great grandmother and community member, Ms Ina was congratulated by the Chief Officer for the Ministry of Community Affairs, Teresa Echenique, who brought well wishes from Premier Alden McLaughlin and the entire ministry.
“On behalf of my ministry, I want to extend birthday wishes to Ms Ina on her 100th birthday. We have the highest respect for our elders and appreciate the foundation they have set for our country,” said Echenique. “We take the needs of our older persons both in the community and in our residential care settings very seriously and welcome this opportunity to celebrate this wonderful milestone.”
DCFS Director Paulinda Mendoza-Williams and Residential Care Supervisor Nurse Thelma Richards added their best wishes.
Cayman Islands Seafarers’ Association President, Denniston Tibbetts, congratulated Ms Ina on behalf of members and added that seaman Belsham Connor’s widow was “still on their books (as an ex-gratia payment recipient)”.
Several Rankine family members, as well as Ms Ina’s youngest son, Lowell, and granddaughter, Vernice, spoke of her “exceptional care and support”, the release said. Described as a thatch worker who had turned her hand to various jobs to support her relatives and someone who had been an active member of her district, well-wishers noted that Ms Ina could still read her daily Bible lesson without glasses.
Attendees were regaled with anecdotes of the “Christian lady with a wicked sense of humour”, stated the release, and Ms Ina was also thanked for her commitment to East End and Gun Bay United Church by Pastor Alice Blaire.
Party-goers sang “Happy Birthday” and Ms Ina expressed her thanks before the food was blessed and her birthday cake cut.
See more photos of Ms Ina’s birthday celebration below, supplied by GIS (click to enlarge)
Category: Community
