Verna and Simmon Scott on their wedding day in 1951 (courtesy)
By Bryan Boggiano
Verna Scott has 106 reasons to celebrate life’s blessings.
The Tamarac resident celebrated her 106th birthday on Sunday, surrounded by her niece, nephew, great-nephew, and great-great nieces.
Mayor Michelle J. Gomez, Tamarac Fire Rescue, Broward Sheriff’s officers, neighbors, and State Senator Perry Thurston all stopped by the house to wish Scott a happy birthday.
“It’s good to see everybody–some I know, some I don’t,” Scott said. “Life is really good because there are people around me today.”
Scott was born in 1915 in Kingston, Jamaica. She grew up on a tobacco farm with her grandparents in Clarendon, according to the city.
Relying on her family to recall memories from her childhood, Scott remembers walking to town with her grandfather from their farm, where they owned chickens, horses, and cows.
Scott left Jamaica for England, where she became a printer. She met her husband, Simmon, and the two married in 1951.
The couple lived in England and New York, eventually moving to Bloomfield, Connecticut. There, Verna was a printer, and Simmon worked construction at an airport.
They moved to Lauderhill, where Verna became a nursing assistant while her husband worked at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
Simmon passed away in 1998. Shortly after, she moved to Tamarac, where she has been living for 19 years. Her nephew, Wentworth Ince, cares for Verna, as does her niece, Odalie Ince.
Tamarac Mayor Michelle J Gomez celebrates Verna Scott’s 106 birthday. {Bryan Boggiano}
An active member in her church, Faith United Church honored her in 2010 for her service and involvement.
Scott also had five siblings, including John William Paulo Bryant, Aston Bryant, Doris Williams, Lynette Bryant, and Carmen Bryant Bourne. Verna has a stepdaughter, Dorene, who lives in Paris.
When asked what her secret was to a long life, Scott said that being good with oneself, forgiving others, and having faith are important.
“I don’t know of anybody [whom] I hate,” she said. “I love people, even those that hurt me.”
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