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Centenarian Celebration: Local Elderly Lady Marks 100th Birthday Milestone
Born on the very day The Walt Disney Company was founded and coinciding with John Harwood’s self-winding watch patent application, Elphin Lodge Resident Joyce Lockhart (née Sheffield) marked her 100th birthday on October 16.
Joyce, originally from Cape Town and born in 1923, is now a centenarian. Over a century, Disney has endured, and smartwatches have evolved to monitor fitness and make calls, all while Joyce celebrated her remarkable milestone.
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Despite having a caregiver who assists five-and-a-half days a week, Joyce resides in her independent cottage within the retirement community. She actively participates in the village church and lends a hand with various tasks as needed.
Elphin Lodge was established by the Rand Aid Association 33 years ago, and Joyce and her late husband, Kenneth Wilson Lockhart, moved into the village in 1991. Although Kenneth passed away 17 years ago, Joyce resides in the same beloved home.
To honour Joyce’s 100th birthday, her daughters Barbara, Pamela, and Myrtle hosted an open house on October 15, welcoming her many friends and well-wishers. The celebratory gathering included sons-in-law, four of her five grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and other family members.
Reflecting on her mother’s life, Barbara shared that Joyce was accustomed to living in close-knit communities, having grown up in Eskom residential developments. Her father and later her husband both worked for Eskom. Living in such communities, with regular social interactions and sporting events, Joyce learned the values of neighbourliness, kindness, and consideration.
After completing her education in the town, Joyce worked as a secretary for Stewarts and Lloyds in Vereeniging. She married Kenneth, a mechanical engineer at Klip Power Station. Joyce couldn’t cook in their early years, and her husband had to teach her. She later became a full-time mother, engaging in sewing, knitting, cooking, and transporting her children.
As her children grew older, both parents actively served on various school and community committees, continuing when they moved to Elphin while the village was still in its early stages. Before retiring to Elphin Lodge, the couple resided in Kensington and enjoyed local and international travel.
Joyce assumed the role of chairperson for the Anglican Women’s Fellowship and remained active in the Mothers’ Union. The couple celebrated many milestones in the village, including their 70th, 80th, and 90th birthdays and their 50th and 60th wedding anniversaries.
Joyce’s parents cherished the security and serene setting of their Elphin cottages, along with the peace of mind provided by the 24-hour care available if needed.
Source: Local elderly woman celebrates 100th birthday
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Photo: Supplied by Germiston City News
