Page 2 - Florida Sentinel 12-16-16 Online Edition

Features
Family Matriarch’s Christmas Wish:
‘To Be Blessed With Longevity And Good Health’
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
Mrs. Genevieve Triplett leads a life of leisure these days. And she takes the things as they come.
She doesn’t require much at the age of 93, but she does have her own rou- tine that fills her days. And, she celebrates holidays. But Mrs. Triplett’s Christmas wish is simple, “I would like to live a lot longer and I want the Lord to continue to bless me with good health and longevity.”
As for gifts, Mrs. Triplett is not hard to please, “I am willing to ac- cept anything anyone gives me. I’ll be glad to accept it,” she said.
Mrs. Genevieve Triplett is shown at her birthday party. She celebrated her 93rd birthday on September 5, 2016.
A native of Binghamp-
ton, New York, Mrs.
Triplett has been a resident of Tampa for many years. She was the founder of a Community Prayer Band, and was very active in religious circles.
Since retiring, she enjoys watching the Game Show Network, she is a huge fan of Steve Harvey, and she enjoys watching anything he is involved with.
An avid sports fan, Mrs. Triplett is a huge fan of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the Tampa Bay Rays. She loves Jameis Winston, who she refers to as “#3,” and she’s a fan of former football player, Michael Strahan.
For many years, Mrs. Triplett attended Highland Mission- ary Baptist Church. She is now a member of Life Springs Church. After reaching a point where her family didn’t feel comfort- able with her living alone, Mrs. Triplett moved in with her granddaughter, Ms. Rhonda Triplett Coleman. “But she
kept her house and I take her by to check on it.”
As part of her daily routine, Mrs. Triplett keeps a rigid
schedule. She rises early and goes to bed when the sun goes down, no matter what time it is.
A widow, Mrs. Triplett is the matriarch of family that in- cludes children, grandchildren, and other family members.
All I Want For Christmas Is...
BY E. G. MOORE
It is well known that chil- dren make a list or write a let- ter to Santa about the things they want for Christmas. Usu- ally, that list will include toys, clothes, shoes, bicycles, and electronics.
So, we thought it would be interesting to find out what their grandparents and great- grandparents would like to re- ceive for Christmas.
CHARLES MOORE, Tampa
"All I want for Christmas is to have my wife, my sons and their families over, to have food on the table and to have health and happiness. I am not concerned about receiving gifts. I just want to enjoy the company of my family on Christmas Day; to be together in harmony; to eat, relax, talk, watch television and just have a good time. Most of all to be thankful that we are all still alive.”
TOYNETTA WILLIAMS, Seffner
"All I want for Christmas is to be alive to see another Christmas because Jesus was born on that day, and that He died for me and He rose again for me and I hope that I'll be alive to see that day.
He has been good to me for 88 years and I just want to thank him for all that He has done for me. It hasn't always been easy, but I just love everybody and I love my church (New Mt. Zion, MB Church, Columbus, Dr., Tampa, FL), and I just thank
him for another day and I thank him for my health and strength, and for the lives of my children and grandchil- dren."
EVELYN JENKINS,
Temple Terrace
Mrs. Evelyn Jenkins said, "I told my daughter that I can't think of anything that I really want for Christmas, because my husband left me well pro- vided for when he passed away. I have one son, one daughter and no grandchil- dren.
“ButifIhadtoaskfor something, it would be an an- swer to my prayer for my son to overcome a bad habit. My daughter is doing fine so this is the only thing I can think of that could be a gift for me this Christmas. Otherwise, I have been truly blessed.”
CHERYL SUTTON, Tampa
"All I want for Christmas is peace, (no turmoil) and har- mony with family where we can all come together without drama. I would like for us to sit down and reminisce about Christmases past and about the things that have happened in the months past, to eat and be merry.
“I don't want anything spe- cial for myself. But this Christ- mas, I will spend with my friend and her family and at- tend Christmas morning serv- ice with her. I want be to surrounded by family and friends and hopefully be able to keep my spirits up since I have lost 2 sisters and my mother this year.
“I am thankful that God al- lowed my mother to be with us for 92 years and still be in her right mind. I am blessed. I don't need anything else."
DAISY HARRISON WADE,
Riverview
Daisy Wade said, “I want to remember the purpose of the season; to have good health (with emphasis on good health since I experienced a health scare with one of her children recently); to be with family and friends; to have peace for everyone."
Mrs. Wade and her hus- band are planning to go to her hometown for Christmas (Marianna, Florida) to visit with her 94-year-old father where they will gather with her siblings and their families.
Our seniors did not have a myriad of things they asked for Christmas. Most of them men- tioned health, which is very important to the "aging." It was great to hear some of them mention the "real reason for the season." Now at least we know that these seniors will not be making any lists or sending any letters to Santa. Thankfully, their stockings were filled a long time ago.
PAGE 2-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016