Erlene ‘Girla’ Bourne was shocked and in tears as she was celebrated by family and friends on Wednesday, August 25 for her 100th birthday.
“Thank you all for doing everything you do for me – Everyone…Today, you’re here and tomorrow you’re gone,” the centenarian said as she expressed her gratitude to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren who gathered at Carter’s Gap. , the Christ Church home she shares with her youngest son Trevor.
Girla, as she is fondly called, attributed her long and eventful life to the biblical quotes “love your neighbor as yourself” and “do good and good will follow you”.
She was a regular patron of Christ Church Parish Church, but when she lost her sight 12 years ago and later received an amputation of her right leg due to poor circulation, Girla began conducting church service at home.
Bishop Marlon Jones of Mount Pisgah Spiritual Baptist Church was on hand at her birthday celebrations to bless the centenarian.
“To reach this age you have to live a good life. Eat, drink and be nice to people [and] work. Get out and work. You don’t steal. Stealing will not get you anywhere, but when you work and do what you can, you pray to God to keep you and bring you and he will help you”, said Girla. Cycle news.
As a mother of four and a domestic worker all her life, Girla’s faith in God kept her going. She was lovingly described as resilient and strong-willed by family and friends.
A particular example is the birth of her last son, Trevor. On December 25, 1956 [Christmas Day] A heavily pregnant Girla was cooking in the kitchen of the family she worked for – the Kinchs – and the water broke. Even when her employers encouraged her to go into one of their bedrooms and give birth, she was determined to clean up and then rush home. Despite the labor pains, she was calm and collected. She rushed to her then home in Providence, Christ Church and delivered the baby.
Life wasn’t easy for the mother of four, but she explained that she spent her life like any normal person – cooking [Girla was renown for her culinary skills] washing, trying to make something out of nothing.
– said Girla Cycle news that “it wasn’t easy and it wasn’t too hard” raising three boys and a girl. She was strict and firm with her children. She boasted that her children were respectful and polite because of her teachings.
“I worked for my children and I always told them that you have to have manners and manners. Behavior makes the man. What you don’t have, don’t ask, don’t steal, don’t take from anyone what is not yours”, she emphasized.
“Children [that] have no manners, they will be mistreated. They will get [push] but if you raise your children with manners, they will turn out as you will have them. I have raised my children and I can say that I have raised good children who have manners and respect,” she continued.
Girla went on to advise parents to “let kids know when they’re right and when they’re wrong.”
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Her son Trevor recalled that his mother was “very strict” and disciplinarian. He found that despite her age, she was probably the healthiest individual in the family.
“She doesn’t get sick, she doesn’t have a cold, [or] headache,” he said while adding with a laugh that his mother was also quite the talker.
He emphasized that she was “a very strong woman”. Trevor recalled that over 40 years ago, his mother, who was a domestic worker for a Christ Church family, arrived at work one morning to find the whole family dead – it was a murder-suicide.
The bitter experience was traumatizing and also marked the end of her career as a domestic worker.
He said Cycle news that this was indeed an important occasion for the Bourne family.
“We are all happy to see him reach this age. You don’t see that very regularly, and I don’t think we’ll see that again in a hurry for any of the other family members.”
