On Sunday, March 22, friends and relatives of Lebertha Palmer, the mother of the well-known Caribbean intellectual and creative artist, Professor Rex Nettleford, celebrated the 100th birthday of the still astute 'Ms P', as she is affectionately known. This took place in the newly refurbished New York facility of the Jamaica Progressive League in the Bronx where Ms Palmer has resided for over 20 years.

In attendance were not only Prof Nettleford, one of three living children, but also a grandson Gareth Edwards, his wife and her five great-grandchildren. Also in attendance were Dr and Mrs Karl Rodney of Carib News, New York, Jamaica's ambassador to the United Nations; Raymond Wolfe and Mrs Wolfe, Noel Mignott, formerly of the Jamaica Tourist Board; Patricia Louis, Professor and Mrs Stanley Lawson of Saint John's University, Mr and Mrs Franklyn Whyte, the Rt Rev Don Taylor of the Episcopal Diocese of New York, Cynthia Murray-Myers, an old friend from Deeside, Trelawny; Delroy Davis and Minister Afiya Dawson of the House of the Lord Church, headed by the well-known community Pastor Rev Hubert Daughtry. The invocation and blessing were given by Minister Dawson.

goodwill messages

Some of the many greetings and goodwill messages were read by Mrs Faye Rodney from the Most Honorable Patrick Allen, governor general of Jamaica and the Most Hon P. J. Patterson, former prime minister of Jamaica, the National Dance Theatre Company of Jamaica and the Little Theatre Movement with which her son has been closely associated for well over four decades. They both sent bouquets and palm plants for the occasion.

From New York, greetings came from the New York Governor David A Patterson, singling her out as a "new member of this nation's select group of centenarians". Greetings also came from Earl Brown, president of the Borough of the Bronx, and New York State Assemblymen Carl E Hestie and Nick Perry as well as from Michael R. Bloomberg, the mayor of New York who applauded her "lifelong dedication to serving others - as Sunday school teacher, a loving foster parent and beloved friend to countless individuals in her native Jamaica and here in the Bronx".

Professor Nettleford confirmed this in his special greetings thanking her for teaching him and his siblings the importance of generosity of spirit and general respect and regard for others as well as a genuine love for learning.

appreciation

He was joined in expressions of appreciation by Ambassador Raymond Wolfe, Vincent HoSang, the Jamaican and successful Montegonian entrepreneur in the baking industry; her great-granddaughter Lenice Edwards and the president of the Progressive League, Sadie Campbell.

The guest of honour punctuated all these speeches with robust declarations of "thanks to all who took the trouble to remember" her and hoped that all present at the function would live to reach her age.

The gathering dispersed after an enjoyable repast of Ms P's favourite Jamaican cuisine - a menu of escoveitched fish, oxtail, jerked chicken, rice and peas and salt-fish fritters provided by Jamaican chef Tony Kelly of Royal Tropical Bakery.

Centenarian Lebertha Palmer 'Miss P' (centre) receives birthday blessings from Minister Afiya Dawson on the occasion of her 100th birthday. Beside her is her son Professor Rex Nettleford.