Centenarian Ercilla Sealy was delighted that her great-grands attended church at Newbury Nazarene with her yesterday.
Beverly Miller-Coppin (right) pinning a corsage on centenarian Ercilla Sealy, when she arrived for church yesterday.
ERCILLA SEALY of Bridgecott, St. George is celebrating her 100th birthday today.
But the centenarian’s grand celebrations started yesterday with her rejoicing and singing praises at the Newbury Nazarene Church, St. George, where she was the centre of attention.
“I am feeling good and blessed today. I love the church,” she told The Barbados Advocate.
Dressed in a beautiful gold frock, with a matching hat and pair of shoes, the mother of three was greeted with hugs and kisses from members of the church she has been attending for over 60 years.
Walking into the building with little assistance, Sealy told everyone how blessed she was feeling to be able to say that she is 100 years old.
“I got here by the grace of God because it is He who helped me up. Everything in church I used to attend and I was thanking and praising God. Sometimes I feel fairly good, and then other times the body feel a bit weak, so I lay down, but I good you know,” she declared.
The centenarian, who was described as one of the best seamstresses in her community during the years she sat at the machine, advised young people to serve the Almighty and they will be blessed with long life.
She testified that life was not always easy, or went according to her plans, but noted that God was always there directing her path and she faithfully followed the directions, often leading her to a place where she felt contented.
“He is always here for me and I won’t let Him down; I will serve Him until I die,” she shouted out, as members of the congregation looked on before the start of the service.
The centenarian’s granddaughter, Pamela Sealy, said her “mama” is not able to hear as well as she used to, but that does not stop her from making her way around the house on her own.
“She is still very much active, just look at her,” the granddaughter said.
Head of the church’s Elderly Care Ministry, Gloria Miller, said it was fitting for the church to set the tone for Sealy’s birthday celebrations, because she devoted much of her time over the years to leading several ministries.
Miller explained that Sealy now only attends church occasionally, as she is not always feeling her best.
“But she was very active in the church when she was able to. The only time she missed church was if she was out of the island, or not well.
“The only Sunday she missed when she was in the island was the Sunday before Christmas, because that was a busy time for a seamstress.
“She has a very good memory and remembers all the Bible verses and I still call her and give her the lesson we are studying in Sunday school, so that she can follow,” Miller said.
Sealy has seven grandchildren and 11 great-grands. (AH)