(CMR) Thelma Range (Aunt Tel) credits her belief in God and having an active social life as the secret to her longevity!
Born on 3 Sept. 1920 in Panama, Range moved to Jamaica with her parents Eugenia and Hubert Edwards. She had one brother, Milton. She married North Sider, Wilbur “Pummy” Range, in 1955 and the couple had three children: Karen, Paula, and Wilberlee.
Cayman Marl Road sat down with Range today to conduct a video interview. We were in awe of her spunk and youthfulness. She celebrated her 99th birthday early on Sunday at a private residence in Cayman Kai, North Side. She marveled at how friends, family and former students came from near and far to celebrate with her.
She provided CMR with a snippet of her life, explaining how she first came to the Cayman Islands by way of Jamaica as a school teacher. In the late 1940s and '50s, she taught at both North Side and West Bay Primary schools, where she served as the principal before moving to the United States.
Full of life, she plays the organ and enjoys dancing, reading the bible, and socializing with her friends. Range explains that she enjoys the company of others in her church and at senior functions. In fact, she still drives and shared with pride that she recently renewed her driver's license in Florida and passed the exam with flying colors.
A vibrant exuberance emits from her as we sat down on her daughter's back porch to talk!
Her birthday celebration was definitely one for the record books as she dressed elegantly and enjoyed a full buffet of her favorite foods. Not to be outdone, the entertainment was provided by Calypso Cowboy Dexter Bodden.
Enjoy our video interview with Range:
Mrs. Thelma Range
- Fascinated
- Happy
- Sad
- Angry
- Bored
- Afraid
