By Frederick Halley
RESOUNDING applause greeted the announcement at the Fly Jamaica gate at the Lester Pearson Airport, Toronto, Canada, on Friday morning when it was announced that centenarian Muriel Jean Smith was about to board Flight OJ257 bound for her homeland, Guyana.
The 102-year-old, who resides in Toronto, was on the verge of making history, becoming the first centenarian to board a Fly Jamaica flight since its inaugural one flew out of Canada on December 17, 2013.

Accompanied by her daughter Joy Okuefuna, the youngest of five children, Smith was given a “royal” send off by the Fly Jamaica crew, headed by Station Manager Lawrence Kanhai, Station Assistant Edward van Luien and a cabin crew supervised by Lavinia Persaud. She was also warmly greeted by Captain Robert Lewis and First Officer Chevon Smith as she entered the plane.
Born in Station Street, Kitty, Georgetown in then British Guiana on May, 17, 1915, Smith migrated to the USA in the early 70s and a few years later made Toronto her home ever since.

Smith’s union with her late husband “Captain” Percy Smith, who worked with the Transport & Harbours Department (T&HD) before migrating, bore five children who are all still alive. Apart from the youngest, Joy, who will be celebrating her 62nd birthday in October, the others are Wayne, the eldest, who turns 72 in July, Brenda, will be 71 next month, 68-year-old Claire and Rawle, who is five months shy of 64.
When Percy passed away two years ago at the ripe old age of 97, the couple had been married for some 70 years, quite a phenomenal achievement.
First-born Wayne lives in Houston, Texas, Brenda in Kent, England, Claire in Toronto, Rawle in Winnipeg and Joy in Alberta, Canada. Twenty-four grand-children and three great grands also complement the family.

In an exclusive interview at the airport, Smith disclosed that apart from a bit of niggling in her knees, she’s enjoying perfect health with very few impediments.
Of much significance is the fact that she lives alone, although a cousin takes care of her meals on a daily basis while her daughter Claire, who lives a block away, assists with household chores. Nevertheless, she quipped, “sometimes I do a little bit of cooking myself also although they don’t want me to.”
Questioned as to whether there was any special reason for her longevity, Smith opined, “I think long life is really a blessing from God; there is nothing beyond that. You have to care yourself…”

An avid church-goer, Smith was also loud in praise of the support of her immediate family and the church community.
On attaining the age of 102, the centenarian, who last visited Guyana five years ago, said “it feels good to reach that milestone.”
Asked if she was subjected to any special diet, she immediately scoffed at the suggestion, saying “we ate well and sensibly.”
Both Kanhai and van Luien disclosed that Fly Jamaica was indeed proud of the historic occasion and hope Mrs Smith enjoys a fruitful one-month stay in Guyana.