A sprightly 86-year-old Agnes Bailey. - Norman Grindley/Chief Photographer

At 86 years old, Agnes Bailey is an inspiration to her neighbours in Middleton, St Thomas.

'Miss Mama', as Bailey is known, regularly outperforms people many years her junior as she continues the small farming that she has done for decades.

"She climb tree and work her ground like somebody much younger," one neighbour told The Gleaner.

"If you wake up at six in the morning, you could see Miss Mama coming back from her ground already," the neighbour added.

After minutes of travelling around the small community, a pack of dogs alerted The Gleaner to the presence of Miss Mama.

"Anywhere she is, she will have all her dogs with her," The Gleaner had been told. This was no lie as several seemingly well-fed mongrels trailed Miss Mama's heels and look on with suspicion as The Gleaner stopped to talk with her.

Still sprightly, Miss Mama told the team that a hearing problem and pain in some joints were her only medical complaints.

"Me foot a hurt me and me go doctor and them give me pills, but me still have some pain," Miss Mama said.

The senior citizen was filed for by her children but, after a few months in the United States, she decided to return to Jamaica.

"Me never like it and me want to come home. Me tell them say it too rough and me can't tek it," Miss Mama said.

That was a decision welcomed by the people of Middleton, who opened their arms to welcome back their Miss Mama.

arthur.hall@gleanerjm.com