Loving family honours Joey on her birthday

Elphin Lodge resident Joey Jennings celebrated her 97th birthday on June 22.

Born in the small town of Vrede in the Free State in 1924, Joey was the oldest of four children and she is the last living sibling.

At the age of five, Joey and her family moved to Jagersfontein by travelling in the sidecar of a motorbike.

Once In Jagersfontein, the family started their new life.

They arrived with nothing to their name, so her father made money giving haircuts to the men for a shilling each.

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Later he opened a grocery store and a dry cleaner. He became a prominent figure in the town.

After completing her schooling in Jagersfontein, her father drove Joey to Bloemfontein where she secured a job with a law firm.

Along the way, their car broke down and a young man by the name of Bill stopped to help them and offered to drive Joey to Bloemfontein, where he also lived.

Joey accepted, although she never imagined she would end up marrying helpful Bill.

Bill would visit Joey at work where they would talk through the window since he wasn’t allowed to go inside. Three months later the couple were engaged. They married in 1948 and had four children.

Although things were not easy when the couple started their life together Joey did clothing alterations to bring in some extra money. She was a very proud woman.

The family’s home was always open to visitors and as Joey loved baking, there would always be homemade treats. The family grew up with solid values and loving memories.

The four children were raised to appreciate everything and to be compassionate.

In 1983 Bill passed away from a stroke. Joey was devastated and has been alone ever since, Bill was her world.

She always made sure she looked good before he got home from work, with her hair brushed and fresh lipstick applied.

Besides looking after her family, Joey enjoyed charity work. She baked and cooked for the less fortunate and worked for Meals on Wheels for several years.

She knitted beanies and scarves for the poor until she suffered a stroke at the age of 87 years.

Joey, an avid reader, always feared that she wouldn’t be able to read anymore, which unfortunately has now happened due to her macular degeneration.

In the last two years, Joey has suffered some minor strokes, which have left her confined to a wheelchair, which has also been a huge adjustment for her as she has always been so independent and now has to rely on others.

Those who know Joey know that she has always been very particular about the way she looks. To this day her clothing has to match, her hair must be done and she has to wear make-up.

She is known fondly by the staff at Elphin Lodge as Queen Elizabeth.

Joey’s family grew and she now also boasts with 11 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild who all love her dearly.

Her family are honoured to have been raised by such a wonderful mother.

The best description of Joey the family ever heard was from her daughter-in-law who said if she imagined what Jesus was like he would be like Joey.

“She sacrificed, loved, nurtured and prayed for us our entire lives and continues to do so.”

Joey has a heart of gold and gentle nature, never wanting to put anyone out or expecting anything from anyone.

The family knows their time with Joey is getting short. It also breaks their hearts that they are unable to spend time with her due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and particularly on her 97th birthday.

Her children are honoured and blessed to have this beautiful woman as their mother.

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