Valrie Davis is fed a piece of her 50th birthday cake by husband Roy at the Bamboo Village Restaurant in Mandeville, Manchester, on Saturday, June 16. The occasion also marked the couple's 30th wedding anniversary. Right: Ruth Brown, principal of Spaldings Primary School, cheers in celebration of her friend's 50th birthday.- Photos by Barbara Ellington

Barbara Ellington, Lifestyle Editor

A select group of close family members and friends joined two-time Gleaner Food contest winner Valrie Davis in celebrating her 50th birthday last Saturday.

The venue was the intimate dining room at the Bamboo Gardens Restaurant, Ward Avenue, Mandeville.

Master of ceremonies Ruth Brown had the guests in stitches with jokes aimed mainly at the clergy, and kept the pace moving smoothly. Toasts began after a series of five cheers, representing all decades of the celebrant's life.

Denise Campbell's poem, written especially for her aunt, extolled her as industrious, intelligent, vivacious and hard-working.

These sentiments were repeated in Moet champagne toasts from Bishop Lloyd Wilkinson, Deta Brooks, Howard Kerr and Valenton Wint. But the recurring theme was Mrs. Davis' kindness to all through her gifts of farm produce to everyone in her Cobbla, Manchester, community. Mrs. Davis is also actively involved in volunteerism and church work.

Enjoyable repast

The mealof beef in oyster sauce, Chinese roast chicken, stir-fry vegetables and special fried rice was enjoyed by all. But it was the birthday fruit cake - made and decorated by the award-winning birthday girl - which had everyone eagerly anticipating a second slice. They were not disappointed.

In her response, Mrs. Davis expressed thanks to her husband Roy for the party. She also disclosed that it was also their 30th wedding anniversary.

"I am blessed with family and friends and I am proud to have all of you with me today; you are hand-picked and special. God has been good to me and I would like you to continue to pray for me and I will continue to be me," she said.

Guests out to the celebration included Mary Styles, Phyllis McPherson, Donald and Deta Brooks, Mark and Beverly Graham, Lloyd and Totlyn Wilkinson, Jennifer Hutchinson, Howard and Sharon Kerr, Valenton Wint, Joan Kenyon, Yvonne Brooks, Vanell Kenyon, Yvonne and Samuel Williams, Paulette Malcolm, Denzil and Pat Stewart, Couzalin and Joyce Nichol.

Left: Gilbert and Marva Kepple travelled from London, England, for the event. Right: Denise Campbell (left), niece of the birthday girl, with Mary Styles, retired postmistress of Christiana Post Office and dear friend of Valrie Davis.

Left: Opal Walker (right), farmer from Cheepside, and long-time friend, shares the occasion with Valrie Davis. Right: Tyrone Wright (left) with his employers, Opal and Samuel Edwards, of Edwards Dairy in Hanover.