Blenheim bids farewell to God-fearing supercentenarian ‘Miss Nora’

WESTERN BUREAU:

Supercentenarian Nora Louise Miller-Welsh, who held the title of Jamaica’s oldest person until she died on July 6 at 110 years old, was hailed as a loving matriarch during a thanksgiving ceremony at the Blenheim Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church, in Hanover, on Sunday.

Miss Nora, as she was affectionately called, was described as the embodiment of love, forgiveness and kindness in a life of devoted service to her community and a reflection of her strong love of God and her Christian values.

“Miss Nora was indeed the matriarch of the community. She was indeed the matriarch of the church, and she was a shining light and a beacon on the hill,” said SDA Church Elder Donovon Hamilton, who was a firsthand witness to the impact she had on the community.

According to Hamilton, Miller-Welsh, who served as head deaconess and as treasurer of the Blenheim SDA Church at different times, was as kind as she was loving.

“She epitomises humility, honesty, kindness and love,” stated Hamilton. “Affection was something that she showed every day and anybody who comes in contact with Miss Nora and needs something, she was always ready and willing to give.”

Tamika Davis, the member of parliament for Hanover Western, the constituency in which Blenheim is located, said Miller-Welsh’s longevity and contribution to the community have made her earthly journey a milestone she deserved to be lauded for.

“Her contribution to this community is unmatched. I knew her long before her reputation as centenarian, supercentenarian and oldest living person in Jamaica,” said Davis.

Davis used the opportunity to encouraged the residents of Blenheim to live their lives, mirroring that of the late supercentenarian, pointing out that, should they do that, their community and the entire Jamaica will benefit immensely.

“For my part, I am not going to stop until we have something to honour her legacy in a meaningful and tangible way, so that when others come after in the years to come, they will always remember her,” said Davis.

In a tribute on behalf of the church, where she was hailed as a Christian warrior, Pastor Donavan Williams said the last 26 years of Miller-Welsh’s life were laced with love and forgiveness towards everyone.

“Sister Welsh was one of the most genuine, peaceful, loving, caring, and forgiving persons that I have ever met,” said Williams, who said he met her for the first time in 1998 when he was the head of the then Lucea District of Churches.

“Miss Nora’s life epitomises the scripture as recorded in Psalm 119:165, which says, “Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble,” said Williams. “She was a true Seventh-day Adventist Christian. No wonder why she was the longest-living Jamaican up to the time of her death. Her contribution to the Seventh-day Adventist Church-Blenheim and the community is unmatched.”

Williams said Miller-Welsh, who was born on March 28, 1914, and lived all her life at Wood Church Square in Blenheim, was a woman of God who lived a life of integrity, accountability, purity, modesty, fidelity, dexterity, vitality, quality, sincerity, humanity, and longevity.

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