Lottie hails from a line of centenarians

Mrs Lottie Laverty who celebrated her 100th birthday on Monday pictured with Mayor of Craigavon, Councillor Mark Baxter. INPT24-207.

Lottie turned 100 on Monday and celebrated with a party at Mahon Hall Care Home which was attended by the Mayor of Craigavon and dignatries from the Methodist church.

Amazingly, the Tamnifacarbet woman is the fourth member of her family to receive a telegram from The Queen.

Letitia, known to her friends and family as Lottie, was born in Tamnifacarbet to the Hewitt family.

She had four sisters and three brothers, the majority of whom enjoyed long and happy lives.

Three of Lottie’s sisters lived to over 100 while another two siblings made it into their 90s.

She is the last surviving member of the Hewitt family.

Lottie married Joe Laverty in 1948. They spent many happy years together until Joe’s untimely death in 1975.

Together they had one son - Maurice who went on to join the Presbyterian church.

Maurice, Minister with High Street Methodist Church in Lurgan, said, “She went to Ballinacor Primary School in the days when you stayed there until you were 14 or 15 and that was the end of your education.

“She was a great sewer and that was the trade which she worked at all her life.

“My mother worked at Spence Bryson linen manufacturers and also worked in a factory that made clothing for the troops.

“When I was growing up I remember her working at home a lot.”

Lottie lived at the family home in Tamnifacarbet all her life until moving into Mahon Hall Care Home three years ago having suffered a couple of strokes.

Maurice (63) added, “She’s a member of Ballinacor Methodist Church and has attended all her life.

“She loved family gatherings and always had visitors round at the house.

“Her home was known as ‘The Meeting House’.”

Special guests at Lottie’s 100th birthday party included new Mayor of Craigavon Councillor Mark Baxter, president of the Methodist Church Ken Lindsay and Leslie Spence, minister at Ballincor Methodist Church.

Rev Spence commented, “There must be something in the water at Ballinacor considering the number of Lottie’s family who have made it to 100.”