Tue | Apr 30, 2024

Eighty never looked so good!

Published:Sunday | July 3, 2011 | 12:00 AM
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Cutting the cake, from left: Trevor Heaven, Lola Williams, Nathan Heaven, Michele Williams, Mark Williams and Kai Heaven.
David and Heather Goldson.
Kai Heaven feeds little Jonah Goldson some ice cream while daddy Roger Goldson looks on.- photos by Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer
From left: Mark Williams, son; Claudine Heaven, her mother-in-law and birthday celebrant, Lola Williams, her son Trevor Heaven and daughter Michele Williams.
Lola Williams is fabulous at 80 as she poses for Outlook at the Terra Nova Hotel.
Lola Williams (right) with granddaughter Timber-Lee Heaven.
From left: Long-time friend Consie Chin and Uncle Kermit Burton pose with Lola Williams.
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Barbara Ellington, Lifestyle Editor

The Pavilion at St Andrew's Terra Nova All Suite Hotel was a picture of tasteful elegance for Lola Williams' 80th birthday on Sunday, June 26. It was a special day as the fabulous senior had reached her 80th birthday and in such a spectacular fashion she could easily drop 10 years and no one would bat an eyelid. Eighty never looked so good.

And so family and friends from home and abroad came to toast her and shower her with love. The gathering included three of her four living children with several grandchildren in tow.

The guests feasted on the hotel's signature scrumptious fare even as Bunny Francis rendered beautiful ballads and played the keyboard. They also viewed scores of pictorial scenes of the octogenarian's long and colourful life.

After the long list of toasts, guests were left in no doubt that Lola, a hairdresser of the highest order, is one of the most loving, caring and giving individuals who ever lived. This was emphasised by her many adopted children who gave her credit for all the success they had turned out to be. Representing this group, Audrey Tomlinson revealed that her Lola took her in and mentored, clothed, fed and trained her to the point where today she owns her own salon.

Consie Chin spoke of their days in London during training and her determination to return home, Ossie Gentles spoke of the friendship honed over the years and Neville Fenton represented the cousins from Savanna-la-Mar. Norma Kerr, Barbara Jones, Timber-Lee Heaven also toasted the birthday girl.

And speaking on behalf of her children, Trevor Heaven, head of the Jamaica Gasolene Retailers Association, said considers himself blessed to have her as a mother. "A woman of her calibre is a blessing, she was the main breadwinner in the family for a long time and I watched her as she sacrificed, turning a shilling into two for us." He lauded her ability to discipline them in her vocal way and said that her children and grandchildren are her life and soul. "We all love you from the bottom of our hearts." Chaired by Don Patterson, the Sunday birthday brunch was thoroughly enjoyed by all.

Guests included Lola's son, Trevor, and wife Claudine Heaven and his daughters Timber-Lee and Kai and son Nathan Heaven; twins Mark and Michele Williams; Samantha Williams-Milbourn; Neville and Dawn Fenton; Donald Patterson and sons David and Dayne; Beryl Williams; Ewan Fletcher; Brian and Triphene Goldson; David and Heather Goldson; Roger and Astrid Goldson; Denise Tait; Richard and Barbara Jones; Robert McCook; Silvia and Earnest Yapp; Christopher and Marsha Pinkerton; Orleen Batson; Everette Fenton; Richard; Pamela Reese and daughter Christina Fenton.

Also out were the Right Reverend Bishop Robert Thompson; the Reverend Stotrell Lowe and wife Alice; Oswald Gentles; Audrey Tomlinson; Flo Armstrong; Howard Armstrong; Karen Armstrong; Nicola Madden-Greig; Barbara Davis; Phillipia Phillips, Norma Kerr; Kristoff and Alexandria Carlton; Scott and Christina Scott; Gary and Ciara Neita; John Jamison; Joyce Batson; Fay and Wally Scott Waldemar and Jean Hines; Cyril; Joyce Bridge; Craig and Camille Lowe and many more.