Ephel Sandford is 90 not out!

Barbara Ellington, Lifestyle Editor

Nowadays, it's a blessing to attain the allotted three score years and 10 much touted in the Bible. Approaching 20 years past that mark, Mr Ephel Sandford of Sanguinetti, Clarendon, decided it was only fitting that he celebrate the significant milestone with a memorable party. As the hours counted down to his April 13 birthday, family and friends experienced some anxious moments when he became ill twice and had to be hospitalised.

But he made it and on Saturday, April 16, he along with wife of 64 years, Pearline, and their seven children, relatives and friends, assembled at Sandals Royal Plantation in Ocho Rios, St Ann, to mark the significant milestone. And what a joyous time it was!

The party began with cocktails and a musical interlude by the inimitable Musical Credits. There were hugs and kisses as the seven Sandford children and other family members, from near and far, greeted guests. Everyone popped their cameras to record the moments with the black tuxedo-clad birthday boy, Ephel Sandford (Maas Ephel).

Excellent service

The conference room of the upscale hotel was superbly decorated with subtle hints of blue, the birthday celebrant's favourite colour. The wait staff delivered the excellent service that characterises the hotel as they served up a menu of Jamaican traditional gungo peas and vegetable soup; seared chicken breast with island style snapper filet, fruit relish, planter's rice and vegetables followed vanilla crème brûlée and silky coffee mousse enhanced with tropical fruit compote.

The Sandfords' long-standing family friend and neighbour, Godfrey Dyer, head of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association, superbly chaired the formalities that began with devotional exercises. He related witty anecdotes of growing up next door and even attending the Sandfords wedding when he was nine years old. He even bragged to the Sandford children that he was around long before any of them.

The devotional exercise was led by I.T. Johnson, church brother and family friend. In reference to the recent illness, he said Mr Sandford had survived two umpires' calls and resumed batting. But he noted, "We are all in the waiting room of life and because Mr Sandford is committed to God and has  acknowledged Him as Saviour, we are all here to thank God for giving him to us."

And then came the toasts from C.V. Johnson on behalf of the community, Alton Sandford and Elaine Sandford-Maragh on behalf of the children, Dwayne Lawrence on behalf of the grandchildren and Leslyn France on behalf of the celebrant's siblings.

Johnson lauded Mr Sandford as a community stalwart, man of humility and devoted member of the St Luke's Anglican Church where he had spearheaded the building of the church hall. "Maas Ephel is a humble man of solid principles and integrity, who trained his children well and always insisted on the value of a good education. He is a serious farmer and it was always a joy to go to his farm and observe him at work," Johnson said.

In a humorous presentation, Alton Sandford took guests down memory lane as he reminisced on restrictions, many spankings and solid values with which his siblings and himself were raised. "Every night, we had to sit at the dining table and use first the 'Home Sweet Home' followed later by the 'Tilly' lamp to do our homework but we were never allowed to go and watch the one TV set in the community." He said his father, with their mother by his side, had always responded to their needs and were examples worthy of emulation. "Dada is the first person who taught us how to multitask because we had to do so many chores, but we are grateful to him and proud of him."

Happy childhood

For her part, Elaine Sandford-Maragh said their father was incredibly blessed to have their mother by his side for 64 years. "You have moulded us into the men and women we are today and we are blessed to still have you to counsel, and comfort us today." She recalled their happy childhood with a father who had an uncanny sense of humour, taught them integrity, was very strict but who also worked to provide food and shelter and a solid education in a nurturing home filled with many stories at the end of the day.

Grandson Dwayne Lawrence likened his grandpa's age to the meaningful innings of a batsman who was still not out. He said his grandfather placed great emphasis on education, was a superb farm manager and at his happiest when surrounded by his children. And Leslyn France thanked her brother for taking care of his siblings long after their parents had passed. "He was more than a sibling to us, he was a father figure who lived an exemplary life."

In his reply, Mr Sandford had high praise for his doctors and the medical team at Hargreaves Memorial Hospital who made it possible for him to be celebrating his birthday. "I feel good about all of this, I thank all who participated in putting this party together and I thank you all for coming out to celebrate my birthday with me," he said.

Among those out for the celebration were Elaine Sandford-Maragh and her husband Raymond Maragh from New York; Ian Lawrence and his wife Monica; Lorenzo and Alton Sandford, in from New York; Hugh Sandford and his wife Elaine, Lambert Sandford, in from Alabama; Sharon Sandford Madike, from Maryland; Cynthia Anderson in from Florida; Carlous and Kari-Ann Wiliamson and their son Carlous Jr, Akissa, Peta-Gaye Sandford; Sean Sandford; Omar Sandford; Vanessa and husband Joel Howell; Godfrey and Odette Dyer; Jerome Duffus; Robert and Rea Francis; Patsy and Morranie Thompson; Pamella Miller; Yvonne Myrie; Monica Anderson and many more.

barbara.ellington@gleanerjm.com