James Lewis living the good life at 100
Published:Saturday | July 28, 2012 | 12:00 AM
Horace Fisher, Gleaner Writer
DENBIGH, Clarendon:
THERE IS a distinct similarity between James Methuselah Theophilus Lewis and the Biblical Methuselah. Both men live for an exceedingly long time.
Lewis, who was born in 1912 in Grange Hill, Westmoreland, hit a square 100 on June 13. If the Westmoreland native, who now lives in Ontario, Canada, had his way, he would be hitting another 100 in 2112.
The centenarian, who celebrated his birthday with a lavish party in Canada, where he has lived since 1982, returned to Jamaica recently to bury his deceased daughter.
"Right now, the old man is just taking things one day at a time. I ensure that I eat healthy, exercise daily, have my regular massages and I am enjoying life, so I may just do another 100 years," Lewis told The Gleaner from his Denbigh residence.
"I have excellent eye sight. As far away as you can look, I can see. I only need glasses for fine, fine print. I have no complaints, no pain. I am in good shape, just an occasional shortness of breath, which my doctor is attributing to my years of smoking," added Lewis, as he moved close to his wife Merglin, whom he wed some 52 years ago.
Mr Theo, as he is affectionately called, explained that his mother died when he was two and a half years old. He grew up with his father and six siblings in Westmoreland. At age seven, he enrolled at the Grange Hill Primary School, where he excelled academically. He left the institution at age 15 to help his father with the cows.
"I was a bright lad. I spent just two days in Junior B before I was placed in first class and quickly moved on to third class, and then on to fourth class," said a smiling Lewis.