Day-after-day that he wakes up, Vincentian centenarian Mitchinson “Mitchie” James thanks God for his sparing mercies. Final Sunday was no exception, as he celebrated his 107th birthday.
A gradual stream of members of the family, pals and well-wishers stuffed James’s house on Midwood Avenue in East Flatbush, Brooklyn, as they, on Sunday, ensured that they have been a part of the extraordinary milestone celebration.
A priest was additionally available, providing prayers to the “birthday boy.”
“Lord, give him a grateful coronary heart,” prayed St. Lucian the Rev. Kino Vitet, of the Church of St. Mark in Brooklyn. “Fill him together with your peace — a peace that passeth all understanding – that every one the angels might be with him, that he’ll hear the tender mercies of God.
“Might this be a therapeutic unto him,” added Rev. Vitet, anointing James with oil. “Take away from him all regrets.”
“Lord, let this present day be a day for reward for you,” he continued. “So, allow us to be grateful. Let this present day be a day of reward – that everyone is a pleasure of your goodness.”
Almira Rodgers, who was James’s neighbor in South Rivers, a preferred village within the North Central Windward constituency in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, mentioned he remembered James when he was a police officer at house.
Rodgers, a Brooklyn resident, mentioned she was significantly impressed by James’s costume.
“He was dressed up with a white tunic – all the time shine,” she informed Caribbean Life.
“It was actually a pleasure to have him round for one more yr, and to see that he’s nonetheless in good well being and has all his schools with him and continues to carry conversations with everybody, regardless of his age,” James’s youngest daughter, Hazel Morris, who takes care of her dad, additionally informed Caribbean Life.
When requested how he feels celebrating his 107th birthday, James mentioned: “Excellent. I eat good; used to eat plenty of fruits, breadfruit and river fish, pigtail and candy potato.”
Final January, when Caribbean Life visited James, he mentioned he needed “to be round till God is prepared for me. I’m joyful God spares my life. I’ve no aches or pains, and I hope to be round for a couple of extra years.”
Morris – who retired in 2021 as a affected person accounts consultant, from the close by Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Middle, after 32 years – mentioned she was trying ahead to her father’s 107th birthday.
Morris’s sister, Gail Davis, who resides in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, described her dad as “considerably a celeb of types.”
She informed Caribbean Life that he’s “bountifully blessed, splendidly made, extremely favored and honored to be amongst a specialised group of human beings referred to as centenarians.”
James, who was born on Jan. 26, 1918, is the son and final youngster of the late Weston and Adina James in South Rivers.
As a boy, he mentioned he grew up in a “comparatively poor and stringent atmosphere”, crediting his sister, Eulyn, for his upbringing after his mom’s loss of life, when he was solely 5 months previous.
James mentioned the elementary South Rivers Methodist Faculty in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, along with the Methodist Church and the neighborhood, offered “love, power and hope” in shaping his character.
On Aug. 10, 1942, James mentioned he enlisted within the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Power (RSVGPF), with the quantity 29. He mentioned he was one among six younger males in coaching on the time.
James mentioned the power had a complement of 59 policemen, led by British Police Chief Jenkins.
James mentioned he served the RSVGPF for 23 years, reaching the rank of sergeant.
He mentioned the excessive level of his profession was working in all police stations in St. Vincent and the Grenadines however one, Stubbs, in South Windward.
He mentioned his father went to the Nice Past in his 90s, and that almost all of his siblings – 5 brothers and two sisters – died of their 90s, as effectively.
As a boy rising up in South Rivers, James mentioned he was very lively in sports activities, significantly cricket. He was a middle-order batsman and leg-spin bowler.
After retiring from the power, James mentioned he managed Sundown Blenders in capital Kingstown for five-plus years earlier than becoming a member of the Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce as a Worth Management Inspector, working with, amongst others, former Prime Minister the late Sir James F. Mitchell.
In 1980, James migrated to Brooklyn and has been residing in the identical condominium in East Flatbush ever since.
He mentioned he labored in safety at Tempo College in decrease Manhattan for 10 years earlier than hanging up his hat.
In the midst of his life, he mentioned he married twice: Each wives are lifeless.
He married Hyacinth Edna Nanton, who died in 1975, whereas he served within the RSVGPF. That union produced Angella, Gail and Hazel.
However Gail mentioned the variety of kids her father “sired elevated as he moved from one out-station to the subsequent (as a police officer).” That can also be typical of some, if not most, law enforcement officials in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
James informed Caribbean Life that he has 15 kids. He didn’t determine all of them.
After migrating to the US, James mentioned he married one other compatriot, Millicent Williams.
In April 2020, the Mates of Sion Hill, Inc., a Brooklyn-based Vincentian neighborhood group, honored James with its Longevity Award.
In 2018, the Brooklyn-based St. Vincent and the Grenadines Ex-Police Affiliation, U.S.A., Inc. additionally honored James with its Lifetime Achievement Award.
James was offered with the award on the group’s Anniversary Celebration Gala and Awards Presentation, additionally on the Mates of Crown Heights Instructional Middle.
On the time, Hazel mentioned: “I determine I’ll spend a while with dad and make his really feel comfy. This man isn’t going anyplace now.”
Pamela Ferrari-Easter, a former RSVGPF sergeant and present president of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Ex-Police Affiliation, U.S.A., Inc., was amongst members who visited James on Sunday.
“I’m honored to have a good time his 107th birthday with him,” she mentioned. “He’s the longest-living ex-police officer from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, however I consider additionally from the Caribbean.”
