FIFTEEN children, 41 grandchildren, 55 great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren all owe their roots to one man — centenarian Luther Allen. Born on July 24, 1926 in Reading, Lacovia, St Elizabeth, Luther is the eldest of three children for Melford Allen and Cathren Thompson. A farmer for most of his life, he moved to St Catherine in 1951, where he met his wife, Una Brown Allen, who is now deceased.
Together, they had 15 children — eight girls and seven boys — all born between 1953 and 1977, and all of whom are still alive today. Seated comfortably in his special chair at his home in Bushy Park, St Catherine, last Friday, the centenarian smiled quietly as some of his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and friends surrounded him, joyfully singing Happy Birthday. At the centre of the celebration was a man whose century-long journey has been defined by faith, hard work, and an unwavering devotion to family.
Echoing small shouts of “hallelujah” as his family members praised him for his years of sacrifice and devotion, Luther credited God and his faith for his long life, sharing that it feels wonderful to live to see 100 years. “The Lord has spared me from when I was a baby until now. He saved me, and he filled me up with his Spirit,” he told the Jamaica Observer, declaring that he is living only by grace and mercy.
Luther Allen (seated) receives a kiss from his eldest daughter, Mavis Allen Morrison. They are joined by (from left) his son Donald Allen and daughters Myrtle Allen Johnson, Dorrett Allen Jackson, and Jennifer Allen, who all visited to celebrate their father’s 100th birthday last Friday. “I am glad for this wonderful day, the day of my birth,” he said, smiling.
Luther spoke proudly about his 100 years of life, sharing that he mainly farmed yam, cassava, peas, bananas, and raised animals to support his family. He said that farming was a skill he learnt from his father, with much of his childhood spent preparing the land and reaping its harvest. Acknowledging that he has a big family, he joked that “the entire Jamaica is Allen” because his children are spread far and wide, some even living overseas.
His eldest daughter, Mavis Allen Morrison, boasted that her father is a family man and a prayer warrior who always looked out for others in the community. “I remember growing up, when he had his dinner, it was seven of us in the hous…
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