Alvin and Angeletta Walker share a loving moment.
THEY ARE as much in love today as they were on their wedding day, December 28, 1952.
"We make it (marriage) work because we love each other. When you have love it works," said Angeletta Walker. "When I met Alvin I wasn't thinking we would fall in love," she admitted. But as the weeks went by she fell for him. "We have a lovely married life."
On Saturday, December 28, Alvin and Angeletta Walker celebrated their 50th anniversary. Mrs. Walker recalled their early days of 'courting'. "When we met we didn't want to part." Though they were both from the parish of St. Thomas, they did not live very close to each other: Angeletta lived in Yallahs while Alvin lived in Mt. Vernon in Trinityville.
Soothed by the continuous sounds of the falls at the Ruins in Ocho Rios, family and friends from Toronto, Atlanta and the UK, gathered to mark the occasion with the couple. Songs that speak to the immortality of true love enveloped the room dotted with gold and white balloons. All the guests seemed to know each other and they chatted excitedly as they exchanged memories they have shared with the couple over the years.
The room was silenced as Master of Ceremonies Wayne Henry announced the arrival of the guests of honour. The continuous flashes of cameras heralded the couple up the red carpet, preceded by their three children who were present.
Eldest child, Jasmine, was very emotional as she spoke of the tremendous example her parents set for them as children. She said it was a very proud moment for her to see her parents celebrating 50 years as in the 50 years of marriage they have shown them how a marriage should be, and they have been very special role models. "Mom and Dad, I love you very much," she concluded.
"Once you give and take it will last as long as you live," Mr. Walker told Outlook. Mrs. Walker said her parents loved Alvin from the beginning and having met in March of 1952, they were married in December at the Church of England in Bath, St. Thomas. They migrated to the UK in 1955 and have lived there for 42 years, returning to Jamaica five years ago.
Their youngest son, Shaun, thanked everyone present for helping his parents to resettle when they returned to Jamaica. "I didn't want to make England my home: I always wanted to come back to Jamaica," said Mrs. Walker. Her husband echoed his wife's sentiments saying he is very happy to be back home.
Cleve, another son, said it was very fitting that his parents celebrate their 50th anniversary in the land of their birth. He thanked his parents for making him who he is and his brothers and sister who they are.
