Keisha Shakespeare-Blackmore, Staff Reporter

David Baker (centre) cannot wait to unwrap his gift of Ensure, courtesy of Cari-Med Limited, presented to him by Allison Dexter (right), while Alda Morgan looks on.

The Gleaner's Lifestyle feature on January 15 entitled, 'A community of centenarians', has helped to bring golden agers in Bellefield, Manchester, supplies of Ensure nutritional drink and other goodies courtesy of Cari-Med Limited.

The article highlighted three people over 100 years old (David Baker, Justina Morris and Jestina Coleman), and Dorris McLean, 93-years-old, all living within close proximity of each other in the Bellefield, Manchester community. It also revealed that Justina Morris who is 105 years old drinks a bottle of Ensure daily. A member of the Cari-Med staff read the article in The Gleaner and after bringing it to the company's attention, it was decided that they would make the trip to the community to offer more of the product to the centenarians.

Happy to see product use

"We were happy to see that someone was using our products and thought it was an excellent opportunity to honour them. They will receive $200,000 worth of supplies (Ensure)," Allison Dexter, senior product manager at Cari-Med, told The Gleaner.

So, last Monday, bright and early, the Cari-Med team and Lifestyle reporter Keisha Shakespeare-Blackmore journeyed to the communities in Bellefield, home to our four golden-agers.

The first stop was with 102-year-old David Baker (Papa D), who looked a bit down, but after he had a few crackers and juice, he perked up. When medical marketing representative of Ensure, Sandra Burke-Green, introduced the team and told him that they brought him gifts, he replied, "Yes man, thank oono. Oono just give me everything whey oono bring come fi mi. And the Lord bless oono man."

While he received his gifts he gave a few jokes and offered his hands in marriage to Ms Dexter. He was a bit sad to see us go. He then said, "I won't tell you my name that way you will come and look fi mi quick so mi name is Rumpelstiltskin," he said with a big smile.

Lord's blessings

Next stop was at Justina Morris (Aunt Jess), who is 105. She was so pleasant and smiled brightly when we entered her room. She was very grateful for the goodies and asked the Lord's blessings on everyone.

About 10 minutes up the road from Aunt Jess was 100-year-old Jestina Coleman (Miss Jess). When we got there she was sleeping, but by the time we unloaded the goodies, she was up. Despite her sleepy state, she was very happy to have visitors and chatted for a while. Then it was off to Dorris McLean's (Aunt Dorris) home.

Aunt Dorris, 93, was overjoyed to see us smiling from ear to ear. Sitting on her veranda she told the team about growing up with her grandmother. "Is Sense fowl egg tek care a mi. Mi use to have fi turn the fowl when it lay and by time yu look it lay again," she said. She told the team that she was thankful for the gifts and also wished God's blessing on everyone.

The final stop for the day was at Franklin Swaby's home in Green Vale, Manchester. Also over 100 years old, he was not a part of the original story, but the Cari-Med team learnt of him and decided to share the goodies with him too. He was a former minister of religion and most people in his community call him Brother Paul.

He fathered six children; three have died, but he has over 100 grand-children. His wife, Irine, died six years ago. he too asked Ms Dexter to marry him. While enjoying a bottle of Ensure he told us how he lost one of his legs. "Di doctor said mi blood was not pure so him cut it off and six months after that he died," he said.

He was very charismatic, and while we visited he repeated Bible verses and sang for us. Before we left he prayed a special prayer for everyone.

Ninety-eight-year-old Franklin Swaby is assisted by medical marketing representative for Ensure, Sandra Burke-Green, with his bottle of the nutritious drink.

Sandra Burke-Green (right) explains to 100-year-old Jestina Coleman the nutritional value of Ensure and that she can enjoy the drink for months to come, courtesy of Cari-Med Limited.

Justina Morris (centre), 105 years old, is a fan of Ensure, and Allison Dexter (left), gave her a year's supply of the nutritious drink. Her son, Marcel Morris, will see to it that she get as much as her heart desires. - Photo by Keisha Shakespeare-Blackmore

Allison Dexter (left) presents Dorris McLean (second right) with cases of Ensure, courtesy of Cari-Med Ltd., while her son, Nevell Mitchell, holds her gift basket, and Sandra Burke-Green looks on.