Doris Johnson Barrish, from Crawford, celebrated her 100th birthday.
Doris Barrish Johnson celebrated her 100th birthday with friends and family at her Crawford home on Monday January 13.
Ma Doris, as she is affectionately known, has no chronic illnesses and only has a bit of trouble with her hearing and sight.
Her secret to a long and healthy life, she says, is to keep busy, smile as much as you can and have a relationship with God.
Ma Doris has a sharp wit as she joked with the Athlone News that God must be upset with her because He “hasn’t called me home yet”.
“Don’t be idle. Keep busy. Even if it is knitting, reading, crocheting, cooking or baking. I never thought I would reach this age. God is good to me. I go to church regularly. I thank God for my life. I have no complaints.”
Before moving in with her son, Winston, and daughter-in-law, Vivienne Barrish, Ma Doris lived at Rainbow Lane Pensioners Cottage in Silvertown, for 30 years.
Her family say she was known for making the best rotis, and, at one stage, she even sold them. She stopped cooking and baking at the age of 92.
Vivienne says her mother-in-law also loves chocolate and remembers all her grandchildren’s birthdays.
Among the visitors she received on her birthday were Anglican Bishop of Table Bay, The Right Reverend Joshua Louw, deputy mayor Eddie Andrews, and Ward 48 councillor Dr Zahid Badroodien.
Ma Doris has a son (a second son has since died), two daughters-in-law, seven grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.
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