Pastor Patrick Allen (right), president of West Indies Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, presents 102-year-old Claris Davis with a plaque in recognition of her church and community work at her home on her birthday, July 9. - Contributed

"I've got my mind made up and I won't turn back because I want to see my Jesus some day."

This was the chorus sung by Claris Davis on July 9. She was in a jovial mood because she was celebrating her 102nd birthday at her Corporate Area home with family, friends and the presidents of West Indies Union Conference and East Jamaica Conference of Seventh-day Adventists (EJC), pastors Patrick Allen and Adrian Cotterell.

Allen presented Davis with a plaque donated by the East Jamaica Conference to honour her service within the church and community.

"This is just a simple recognition, but we know you are waiting on the great recognition from Jesus Himself. The Lord bless you," he told the centenarian.

Only surviving sibling

Davis, affectionately called 'Miss Claris', is the only surviving sibling of nine and was born and bred in Stony Hill, St Andrew. She has been a member of the Macedonia Seventh-day Adventist Church in Kingston, Jamaica, since the mid-1970s. Her church involvement includes being a member of the Dorcas Society, now Community Services Department of the church, and she was known to make her home available to anyone in need.