Centenarian mourns wife of 50 years
DESPITE HIS strong and robust demeanour for his age, centenarian Sydney Francis remains a shadow of himself as the strength of his existence and life partner is gone forever.
“We worked as a team. I do the farming, and she would sell the goods. She was a good wife to mi,” Francis said.
As friends and relatives gathered at the funeral for his wife, Enid Francis, on Monday, a despondent Sydney suffered behind his pair of glasses.
“She and I work very hard to raise the 10 children although one died about 10 years ago when she (my wife) get sick. Mi still was waiting fi har coming back home,” Sydney said.
The widower, who celebrated his 100th birthday on December 25, 2023, said having spent almost 50 years in holy matrimony, Enid’s death was a very hurtful episode.
“This is a sad day for me, and I really miss her,” Sydney told The Gleaner at the church.
The service of thanksgiving for the life the late Enid ‘Cee’ Francis, held on February 19, saw scores of friends, loved ones, and well-wishers celebrating her life at the church that she attended along with her family for five decades.
The occasion saw the Wheeler’s Mount Baptist Church in Springfield, St Catherine, packed to capacity.
Community members gathered at the church and the family yard in Springfield District, where her grandchildren lifted the coffin with her remains to its final resting place.
“She was kind, generous, respectful, mature, and overall, was the mother of all, be it children, grand, great-grand, strangers, and all who got to know her,” said niece Beverly Gordon.
This view of the life of the deceased was echoed by many in their own way .
Enid was eulogised by her granddaughter, Aneita Fearon, as the female leader of the family who worked in tandem with Cyril to instil great values.
“She was very diligent and dedicated to raising her children by way of vending. She also cared dearly for those around her,” Fearon said.
Floral tributes by family members, as well as an abundance of open tributes, echoed through the church on behalf of Enid, a daughter of the community.
“The crowd reflects the great support from her family, which is the largest in the Springfield community,” said Lynworth Brown, justice of the peace of Guys Hill.
Reverend Dr Colin Jarrett, who conducted the homily, endorsed the service of longevity to the church community. He also prayed for the bereaved family.
Tears flowed freely as the matriarch was laid to rest at the family plot.
Francis 88, who died January 5, is survived by Sydney, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
‘She and I work very hard to raise the 10 children. ... Mi still was waiting fi har coming back home. ... This is a sad day for me, and I really miss her.’