Healthy eating, plenty of rest and strong faith in God helped Esmee Lorraine Burrows notch up her 100th birthday.

About 100 friends, family and dignitaries gathered last Tuesday afternoon for Mrs. Burrows? centenary celebration party.

Mrs. Burrows ? born June 13, 1906 ? is the mother of former Progressive Labour Party MP and Senator Reginald Burrows.

The landmark party was held at her daughter?s home in Southampton and guests included her 92-year-old sister Eleanor DeRosa.

The party was hosted by her son and his wife Sheila as well as her daughter Correne Dummet and her husband Bruce.

The party attracted many dignitaries including Premier Alex Scott, Speaker of the House of Assembly Stanley Lowe and former MPs.

Her grandson Christopher Burrows flew in from Florida for the clebration and great-grandchildren Hakim, Malika and Sabor Talib Bey flew in from New York. A.J. Jackson also jetted in from Florida.

Daughter Correne said that her mother ?had a great time? with friends, many of whom she does not get to see very often.

?She?s had a great life [and travelled a lot, extensively, to different parts of the world. She?s been a great mother. She was always there for my children, whatever it was, she was always there for them,? she said.

Mrs. Burrows is the daughter of the late William and Martha Lovell. Her family moved to New Jersey when she was 12, then to Brooklyn, New York where she attended Brooklyn High School.

Mrs. Burrows and her husband eloped in 1934 and she later became a homemaker.