Ivan Sterling basks in centenary glory
... reflects on changes, memorable moments in eventful 100 years
Published:Saturday | January 20, 2024 | 12:06 AMChristopher Thomas/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
“One hundred not out!”
That was the triumphant exclamation of centenarian Ivan Edward Sterling, who celebrated his 100-year milestone with relatives and well-wishers at a special dinner in Montego Bay, St James, on January 14, two days after his birthday.
Although he currently walks with a cane and is somewhat hard of hearing, Sterling’s mind was sharp and his memory impressive as he chatted with The Gleaner, giving thanks for his life experiences since he was born to Samuel Sterling and Princess Black (nee Jones) in 1924.
“I feel like I’m in Heaven. I asked the Lord to guide me, and the Lord keep and guide me through all this time. When I was [younger], all this place was in bushes, and I live to see today, the big hotels, and the airport (Sangster International), which I know it long before any airport was put there,” Sterling reflected.
“I can walk, and some people are in bed and some are dead,” added the man fondly called ‘Fox’.
“God provided this age for me. You may change, but I will never! Mi come here poor and mi get rich! Look how much shirt mi got!” he continued as a relative gave him a T-shirt bearing his likeness.
Born in the community of Home Hill near Ironshore, Montego Bay, Sterling was the third of seven children for his parents, who taught him the values of honesty, compassion, and respect for others.
He attended Mount Horeb Primary, as his father resided in the community at the time, and later attended the Barracks Road and then the Chetwood Memorial primary schools, where his formal education ended at age 14.
After leaving school, Sterling took on several jobs, including venturing into farming, raising chickens and planting yam and bananas. He also worked at the Ironshore Sugar Estate.
Sterling also worked for more than 25 years as a tractor driver with the St James Parish Council (now the St James Municipal Corporation), and was the first driver there to deliver a load of waste to the Retirement landfill in the 1950s.
Sporting activities
He also made time for fun with his friends, and he recalled how he was often active in sporting activities, and he is particularly fond of his memories as captain of the Albion community’s local cricket club.
“We used to have a club at Albion’s playground. Where I lived, the playground was very nearby. I was a club captain for that cricket club and I liked to bowl. I wasn’t a good batsman, but I was the star bowler, and it was me who would first hold the ball when we were going to start the game anywhere we would go,” Sterling said proudly.
“They used to say that I took the red off the ball; it was always me first bowling the ball, and I was one of the fast bowlers, and I used to take many wickets.”
In 1956, at the age of 32, he married Elvira Walker and they had nine children. The couple enjoyed 32 years of wedded bliss before Elvira died in 1989.
In 2000, Ivan married his second wife, Velma.
In all, the centenarian fathered 16 children (three now deceased). He also has 35 grandchildren (two deceased) and 53 great-grandchildren.
Daughter Grace recounted how Sterling – a long-standing member of the Norwood Seventh-day Adventist Church – had ironically resisted becoming a Christian out of fear that he would be unable to protect his family if he did so.
“My best memory of my daddy is that he is very brave, and he always liked to stand up for us. At one point, he said he would not become a Christian because he wanted to protect us, because, if he should become a Christian, he couldn’t protect us. He didn’t know that God was protecting us, but now he’s been a long-time member of the church, so it’s kind of ironic,” Grace said with a laugh.
“He was a strict father, but he’s a jovial type of person, too. He always makes us happy; he always gives us different jokes, and ‘Big Boy’ stories, and telling us what he would remember,” she added.
Grandson Trey Richards spoke equally fondly of his earliest memory meeting his grandfather in the early 2010s.
“He is a great person, and I love him. The first time I was getting to meet him, it brought joy to me because I used to hear about my grandfather but I did not get to see him,” said Richards. “I was always bothering my mom, ‘Let’s go look for Grandpa’, because my grandma gave me the courage to go look for him, and that brought joy to me. I am glad for his long life, same way.”
In the meantime, Ivan Sterling is urging the youth of today to eschew bad habits and influences.
“You see these fellows, why they don’t live long now, it is because of rum and ganja. I used to work at Ironshore Estate where the rum was made, and I never was a rum drinker. That is one of the things why I live so long, as those things ruin your body,” said Sterling.
“All our young people under 70, 60, 50, and 30, I would advise you people to live like how this gentleman live from those days come up. I am Ivan Sterling – 100 not out – and I never make no trouble. So I would like you to live like how I was living and come all the way come up, no trouble. I’m asking you all to change your bad living if you’re in anything like it,” the centenarian advised.