GUYANA’S longest surviving centenarian, Mr. Gladstone Mack, yesterday celebrated his 105th birth anniversary; but delighted though he was at this achievement, he feels he has run ‘the race’, and is now ready to meet his Maker.“I am happy that I have lived to see 105, and (I) give God all the glory for the great things He has done,” Mack said. “But personally, I know that I have made it right with my Saviour, and anytime He is ready for me, I’ll respond to His call. Oh, how I am glad to be in that sweet home that He has prepared for me!” Mack told the Guyana Chronicle yesterday.

Looking at him as he prayed, it was obvious that, beneath it all, he was missing his wonderful wife of 60 years — Viola Mack, née Fortune — who transitioned about seven years ago, after a wonderful union that was premised on the principles of God.

UNUSUAL RESPONSE
Considering his responses to be quite unlike the usual expressions of birthday sentiments, the Guyana Chronicle modestly enquired of ‘Brother Mack’, as he is fondly called, whether he would consider making it to 110, but he replied in the negative.

Asked how much longer he would like to go, Brother Mack replied, “If it’s tomorrow self!” Then, after a few moments, he quietly confided that, based on how he feels these days, he does not think he could make it much longer.

He admitted that of late he’s been feeling as if he’s on his last, as he’s often given to ‘giddiness’ — a swinging in the head, and a great discomfort in the left region of his chest; not to mention the pain in his knees and the swelling in his insteps, all of which have rendered him immobile.

But even though he’s now confined to bed, his daughters consider his health to be average, since he can still do some of the things he loves doing. He has also been able to benefit from monthly church visitations and services, since he has a son who is a Church of Christ pastor and he also receives monthly visits from Reverend Glennis Spencer, Superintendent of the Trinity Methodist Church. Additionally, he receives occasional check-ups from his doctor through home visits.

But his occasional feelings of ill-health are invariably overcome by the abundant love that exists in the home in which Brother Mack lives, and all his needs are met.
FAMILY MAN
He currently resides with his daughter, Ms. Violet Crawford, and her family at their Block ‘E’ Sophia home, where he is the pride of the family. The former Methodist Church elder is the proud father of 10 children, all of whom are alive and are more than 50 years old. He has 30 grand-children; 70 great-grand-children; and five great-great-grands, of whom he is justly proud, given that they are proud examples of the values and principles he stands for.

What makes him even more proud is the fact that, during Guyana’s Independence Jubilee celebrations held in May, he was awarded for being the oldest male centenarian in Guyana. He was, years ago, also awarded by the Guyana Marketing Corporation for his sterling contribution to the agricultural sector whilst he was a farmer working on the Essequibo Coast.

However, being visually impaired and confined to bed these days does not, in any way, restrict his entertainment or deny him opportunity to keep abreast with current affairs. He is constantly tuned in to the television, and makes it a point of duty to listen to ‘Judge Judy’, one of his favourite television programmes.

Of late he is more concerned with the horror stories making the news, and is praying that things would become better.

As for the foods that tickle his fancy, in spite of having to rely on dentures, he’s an ardent lover of fried chicken and French fries; pholourie and, naturally at his age, soup. And having been a vegetable farmer for the greater part of his life, he likes ground provisions, which he uses either in soups or crushed and served with stewed chicken.

With Christmas just around the corner, our centenarian, who hails from Aurora on the Essequibo Coast, reflected on the fun times he had had with his dear wife, Viola, and their ten children.
“With ten children to raise,” he recalled, “it was generally hard to make ends meet; but my wife and I always ensured our children had a good Christmas, and that the entire family was present in church.”

And being a stickler for discipline, the siblings dared not frown, even when they got the Christmas gift that was not particularly their first choice, as it was a rule of thumb in the home that they show appreciation for whatever their parents were able to give them, and accept it with love.
Such values were handed down by his father, William Augustus Mack, who had also been a pastor.

CHILDHOOD
Reflecting on his childhood, Brother Mack recalls that his mother died when he was just two years old, so his father took another wife. But since his step-mother was not kind to him, when he became 14 years old he travelled to Georgetown to live with an aunt. A few years later he would return to Aurora, where he fell heels over head in love with his neighbour’s daughter, the beautiful Viola.

The two subsequently tied the proverbial knot, paving the way for the coming into being of a wonderful family of nine children. Brother Mack had a son before meeting his wife, and the boy was accepted into the family.

In observance of Brother Mack’s signature milestone, a private family gathering will be held at his daughter Violet Crawford’s home on Saturday afternoon.