108 and still going strong

About 50 family friends and well wishers gathered on Sunday the 6th of June at the Harmony House in Small Heath Birmingham to celebrate with Theresa Stephens on her 108th birthday. The attending group included her present and former pastors and the North England Conference President Pastor Ian Sweeney, who congratulated her on her achievement as “the oldest member of the North England Conference family.” Surrounded by family friends and well wishers, Theresa sat like a queen in state, still bossing her carers around. Many tributes and best wishes for good health and continued longevity were expressed by those who spoke.

The attendees were regaled with tales of Sis Stephens’ legendary large handbag which she used to carry around containing all sorts of things, and the time that her “alarm clock went off in church in the middle of prayer meeting.” Others commented on her kindness and generosity and her love and support and commitment to her home church, Camp Hill.

Sis Theresa Stephens who was born on June 5, 1902 in St Andrew, Jamaica spent several decades looking after her sick mother Sarah Elizabeth Stephens until 1963. A year after her mother died she came to England where she looked after her brother George’s children and other nieces and nephews, and immersed herself in the life of her local church and community.

Caring for her mother meant that that Theresa never married but she never seemed bothered by this. In fact, Sis Stephens, who never had any children, said in an earlier interview that in her day “a woman was expected to have a husband not a boyfriend... and a woman was expected to have children only when married.”

Sis Stephens attributes her longevity to the blessings of God because she looked after her mother. Tributes of appreciation were expressed to her main carers, Sylvia Thompson and Persephone Bains.