Ruby Hall, who celebrated her 100th birthday on Monday, comes from a line of long livers. - Photo by Laranzo Dacres

Laranzo Dacres, Gleaner Writer

The thunderous bark of a Rottweiler greets welcome and unwelcome visitors to the red metal gate of Ruby Hall's yard. A thud on the gate was followed by my quaking call, which awakened the centenarian from her slumber.

"Who is dat?" asked Hall, her strong voice masking her age.

Cautiously, I entered the yard. She barely looked more than four feet tall, wore a headscarf with a floral design, and cl**tched her walking stick while signalling me to pass the chained dog.

Hall, who lives at Higholborn Street in Kingston, was born on May 10, 1910, and hails from the hills of Gordon Town, St Andrew.

The creases etched on her face tell tales of a vivid past, and 'Mama', as she is affectionately called, was not shy to share a story or two. She had a gleam of youthful zest in her eyes - though dimmed by the passage of time - as she sat on a mattress that urgently needs replacing.

"Mi neva know seh mi woulda live so long," she told The Gleaner.

Bygone era

She recalled a bygone era when she earned three shillings per week as a household helper. She said three shillings was not sufficient to raise her children but she was "glad for it".

"When I asked mi boss fi a raise, him jus' fire mi," she said with a smile, "but whatever work we do on earth, we will get repaid."

Hall, who lives with a grandson, said only one of her three sons were alive. That surviving son, whom she calls 'Duduh', has 13 grandchildren in a fruitful genealogical line.

At 100, Hall is still able to stand on her own, but cannot walk without the aid of her cane, and her hearing is not as sharp as it used to be.

She expressed disgust at present-day Jamaica and the tumultuous tide of violence.

"Today is nutten like my time. You could walk from night 'til mornin' an nuhbody nuh trouble you; now you 'fraid fi even walk a day. ... All dem young people yah do, dem fight, dem cuss an' dem kill!"

Hall, a Christian, credits her faith as key to her longevity, as well as a possible genetic predisposition to sticking around. Her siblings were past 80 when they died and her remaining son is almost 80. She is, however, less optimistic about the lifespan of today's youths.

"Dem yah young people nah live so long, because dem a gwaan like seven devil in hell," she said, laughing.