Marion Williams turns 104

Senior Citizens Week kicked off on Sunday and there are plenty activities organized to honour our older members of society and highlight their contributions and experiences. And while Belize boasts a youthful population there are many among us who have lived the extra mile surpassing a century of life. News Five caught up with one such special lady today.

Marleni Cuellar, Reporting
Marion Williams is a centenarian. Today she celebrates her hundred and fourth birthday. It’s a feat that few of us can imagine accomplishing, but according to this centenarian, hard work and her prayers brought her longevity in life.

Marion Williams, Centenarian
“Oh yes I work hard and so I go to church and so. Every Sunday I go to church.”

Marleni Cuellar
“Every Sunday you go dah church?”

Marion Williams
“Yes.”

Marion once walked to church every Sunday until a month before her hundredth birthday. That’s because she fractured her hip bone in a fall that led to her difficulty in moving around.

Marion Williams
“I haffu tek it easy wid dis. This is thing dat mek I haffu tek it easy. First I neva use to. Run downstairs and I run come up.”

That doesn’t stop Marion from enjoying her family and the life that she now leads. She is surrounded by four generations of her family including her eighty year old daughter Daisy and her great, great grandson, two year old Avery. She is most thankful for her long life.

Marion Williams
“Oh I thank God dats what I thank god that I here. This morning I wake, I thank God that I still here.”

And her birthday special birthday request…

Marion Williams
“Oh yes I want wah big plate ah food.”

And as Marion clearly demonstrates, the theme for this year’s Senior citizens week is ‘I am not aging – I am increasing in value.’