Ouma Maria Johanna Hendricks celebrated her 100th Birthday with her family on Sunday and says her secret to long life is “abstaining from smoking, drinking and serving God with everything you have”.
Maria was born on 12 January 1920 in Visgat, about 15km outside Klaarstroom in the Prince Albert District, and is the eldest of 11 siblings with only four surviving.
Her grandson Alan Kannemeyer, says his ouma is a shining light in her Matroosfontein community and never misses a church service or prayer meeting.
He says: “ Ouma served the church all her life and is still an active member even though she now has a lack in speech.
BIRTHDAY: Ouma Maria Johanna Hendricks from Matroosfontein.
“She was active in morning service, mothers groups and a Sunday school teacher, and today still attends services faithfully.”
Maria moved to Salt River in 1943 where she worked as a laundry lady at the Grand Hotel before moving to Kent Way in Matroosfontein in 1958.
Maria is proud to still be alive to see her 12 kids, 41 grandchildren, 76 great-grandchildren and eight great-great-grandchildren.
“I love the Lord and I love my children. I’m blessed to see four generations grow,” she says.
“I’m happy to be able to spend my 100th milestone with my family and my advice to others is to honour your parents and live a healthy lifestyle and make Jesus the centre.
“We see so much youth dying today due to drugs and gangsterism. I pray for change and protection so the youth can also see 100 like me.”
SWEET TREAT: The lekker cake prepared for Ouma Maria
Ouma Maria was 51 when her husband Gert Hendricks died in 1971.
The family held her milestone party at a campsite at Bergkroon in Wellington where they catered for 300 people, 137 of whom are her children and children’s
children.
The family organised a bus to transport her friends from Matroosfontein to the party venue.
“We know how much her friends mean to her, and she is loved by so many people so we had to bring them along too,” says Alan.
SPECIAL DAY: The milestone party in Wellington where 300 people were catered for.