Sunrise
Cottage Resident Celebrates 100th
Birthday in Style

GRAND
CAYMAN (GIS) - Ms Ina
Victoria Connor was given a note congratulating her for having
reached 100 years old from His Excellency Governor Martyn Roper
yesterday (Tuesday, 5 February 2019).

The
East End matriarch celebrated her centenary, last Friday (1st
February), with cake, candles and cheer with family, friends and
senior government officials at Sunrise Cottage residential home. Ms
Ina was feted in style by the Department of Children and Family
Services (DCFS) and senior politicians at facility in East End.

The
event, arranged by the DCFS and her family, was conducted in the
residential home and under cover outside, and began with live music
from the East End Kitchen Band. More than 50 people attended to help
Ms Ina usher in her milestone birthday, which formally opened with a
prayer by Rev. Godfrey Meghoo.

Birthday
greetings in the form of short speeches were given by her longtime
acquaintances: the district’s MLA, Hon. Arden McLean and Speaker of
the House, Hon. McKeeva Bush. Both said Ms Ina was a strong Christian
lady with an unshakeable faith that had seen her through life’s
trials and tribulations. They added that having reached the milestone
was “the reward for a life well-lived.”

Variously
described as God-fearing, a strict disciplinarian, a loving and
supportive mother, sibling, grandmother, great grandmother, great
great grandmother and community member, Ms Ina was congratulated by
the Chief Officer for the Ministry of Community Affairs, Ms Teresa
Echenique, who brought well-wishes from the Premier, Hon. Alden
McLaughlin, Councillor Austin Harris and the entire Ministry.

“On
behalf of my Ministry, I want to extend birthday wishes to Ms Ina on
her 100th
birthday. We have the highest respect for our elders and appreciate
the foundation they have set for our country,” said Ms Echenique.
“We take the needs of our older persons both in the community and
in our residential care settings very seriously and welcome this
opportunity to celebrate this wonderful milestone.”

DCFS
Director Paulinda Mendoza-Williams and Residential Care Supervisor
Nurse Thelma Richards added their best wishes.

Cayman
Islands Seafarers’ Association President, Mr. Denniston Tibbetts
congratulated Ms Ina on behalf of members and advised that seaman
Belsham Connor’s widow was “still on their books (as an ex-gratia
payment recipient).”

Several
Rankine family members, as well as her Ms Ina’s youngest son,
Lowell, and granddaughter Vernice, spoke with gratitude and affection
about Ms Ina’s “exceptional care and support.” Described as a
thatch worker who had turned her hand to various jobs to support her
relatives and someone who had been an active member of her district,
well-wishers marveled that Ms Ina could still read her daily Bible
lesson without glasses.

Described
as a “Christian lady with a wicked sense of humour,” attendees
were regaled with anecdotes. Ms Ina was also thanked for her
commitment to East End and Gun Bay United Church by Pastor Alice
Blaire.

Party-goers
sang “Happy Birthday” and Ms Ina expressed her thanks before the
food was blessed and the ceremonial cutting of her birthday cake.

Captions
and photos Elphina Jones (GIS)

Photo1: Ms Ina Connor and her extended family celebrated her 100th birthday at Sunrise Cottage on Friday, 1 February 2019.

Photo4: Speaker of the House, Hon. McKeeva Bush spoke during Ms Ina’s 100th birthday celebration at Sunrise Cottage.

Photo6:
Jeralow Rankine and
Goldstein Christian share a hug with their sister, Ina Connor, at her
100th
birthday celebration at Sunrise Cottage.