Janet Silvera, Senior Gleaner Writer
Birthday girl Rose Lee (right) cuts her special cake with husband John (second right) and daughters, Janielle (left), Trudell and Danielle.
WESTERN BUREAU:
Her beauty radiates each day. Her energy level is incredible. She is kind, giving and committed. She is 'simply the best', were merely a few of the accolades heaped on Montego Bay's adored Rose Lee last Saturday night.
Family, friends, admirers and acquaintances travelled from the United Kingdom, Canada, United States and every nook and cranny in Jamaica to celebrate with the catering giant as she said hello to the number 50.
Lee lit the lawn and magnificent palm trees at her sprawling Coral Gardens residence with hundreds of pepper lights amid orchids lending a welcome atmosphere to an evening of laughter, joy, tears, fine food and great conversation.
Music, cocktails
Steel pan music and an exciting array of cocktails were the drawing card used to titillate the appetite of those who adhered to the 6:30 p.m. start time. This time was geared specifically to accommodate the elderly; while a promised evening of excitement and a different time slot was allotted to the younger party people.
At 8:30 p.m., Rose Lee's 50th birthday party was in full swing. Hot and cold stations of garlic crab, conch, curried mutton, stewed pork and roasted chicken served with yam, pasta salad and garden vegetables were the precursor to the open toasts and the cake-cutting ceremony.
With uncontrollable tear ducts, the birthday girl's daughter Trudell spoke on behalf of siblings: Danielle, Janielle, Marcston and Andre. "We have seen you grow, experienced your big accomplishments and learnt that whatever you do, you put in 100 per cent. Your achievements are inspiring and you now deserve to relax."
Making an impact
Relaxation is far from Rose Lee's mind, as she continues to make an impact on the many lives she has touched over the years.
"Rose, you have made an indelible mark in my life, you gave me my husband Kelvin," declared guest Carolyn 'Suzie' Salmon, while MiPhone's Rosemarie Ivey sang Simply the Best and the talented nine-year-old, Talia Prout, paid a musical tribute.
Lee's husband, John Lee, the quiet one in the family, was at a loss for words, but he did say publicly, "My wife, I love you, happy birthday."
The letters that spell ROSE mean 'Radiant, Outstanding, Superwoman, Energetic,' and was an easy refrain for those who attended.
Family members in attendance included: father Neville Crosdale and wife Erica, sister Pauline Haughton, aunts and uncles, Gloria Henry, Patrick and EthelPalmer, Charles, Clarence and Janu Crosdale, Maureen and Joseph Simpson, Desmond and Genevieve Levy.
Among her friends were: Myrtle and Earnest Wong, Robert Russell, Paulette Henry, Max and Joy Clarke, Frankie Bullock, Richard and Maurice Whittingham, Cecil Bird, George Thomas, Gerard Ivey, Lorraine Mitchell and Tamara Salmon, Dwayne and Karen Bennett, Dolly and Mike Barber, Doreen Smart, Genevieve Osbourn, Donald Chin, Denny and Suzie Crichton, Sonny Crichton, Obam Clarke, Neville Blake, Ossie Lynford, Karen and Wayne Yappshing, GabrielBernard and Cecil Smith, Senior Supt. JasminTomlinson Brown and Owen and Judith Berger.
