Regal birthday celebration for Rose Bennett-Cooper

Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor

This was indeed a very special occasion as it marked the start of the 'yearlong' celebration of the 50th birthday of the regal Rose Bennett-Cooper. The noted jurist turned talk-show host, celebrated her special milestone two Saturdays ago.

It was the talk of the town as she made it known to her hubby - artist Cecil Cooper, that as this was a very special milestone, nothing short of a very special celebration would do.

Well, hubby needed no prodding, nor did family and friends who were in one accord when it came time to celebrate. And celebrate they did. With the style and panache those who know the birthday girl have come to equate with her.

The Jacks Hill home of the Coopers was certainly the place to be. Dears, beginning at 7 p.m., the event was more like a musical than it was a party. There were performances by Harold Davis and Friends; Hubby Cecil Cooper - himself a celebrated tenor, Dem Three Jamaican Tenors and a Baritone - Cecil Cooper, David Reid, Steve Higgins, and baritone Andrew Lawrence; DiMario McDowell; and Delano McFarlane.

Ivor Smith of KOOL 97FM, went into his musical treasure chest and spun some fab tunes.

Robin and Renée Rickhi took catering honours and they served up a fab fare. It included pig in a box, jerked chicken, zesty potato salad, sweet potatoes, Spanish rice, sprat and bammies from Old Harbour, curried goat, mannish water, chicken and red peas soup, bread pudding, potato pudding, fruitcake, white chocolate roses, and much more.

And with the already fabulous home of the Coopers done up by Karen Booker, y'all know we are talking haute fabulissimo here and nothing but.

Dears, by the time it all ended in the wee hours of Sunday morning, only the true high priests and priestesses of partying were left standing.

Among those out, sharing in the joy and beauty of the celebrations were: Finance Minister Dr Peter Phillips and wife Sandra Minott-Phillips; Technology Minister Phillip Paulwell; Opposition Leader Andrew Holness and wife Juliet; the elegant Maureen Shaw; Supreme Court justices Carol Edwards and Leighton Pusey; Public Defender Earl Witter; Drs Freddie and Hillary Hickling, and the esteemed James Samuels. Also out were; Pansy Porteous; former attorney general

Dears, by the time it all ended in the wee hours of Sunday morning, only the true high priests and priestesses of partying were left standing.

Ransford Braham; Elombe Mottley and wife Donna Scott-Mottley; Professor Carolyn Cooper; Lennie Little-White and longtime companion the fab Cheryl Ryman; the charming Petrona Morrison; Doug and Sonia Folkes; Pat Gooden; the charming Kay Osborne; social diva Karen Neita; the birthday girl's son, Adrian Bennett; the birthday girl's siblings Patsy and Jennifer Bennett, brother Anthony; nieces Donalee Thomas and Keisha Harrison; nephew Michael Berry; stepdaughter Jamila Cooper; brother-in-law Paul Cooper; sister-in-law Paulette Cooper; the birthday girl's favourite teacher, (English literature) Pansie Porteous, and Chucky Cameron and wife Carolyn Reid-Cameron. Also present to wish happy birthday were; Paulette Bellamy; Tony Patel; the regal Sybil N'Toutoume; the lovely Rosie Murray; Commander John McFarlane and his wife; the fab Carole Reid; the fabulous Claire Miller; the erstwhile Robert Gregory; the ultra-gorgeous Dianne Edwards; Dr Paul Aiken; the celebrated Donette Zacca; the charmingly fab Gilou Bauer; Veronica Clarke-Brown; André Earle; Trevor Figueroa; the engaging Marsha White; Sheldon Beckford; Melba Gordon; Carlton Samuels; the lovely Kemilee McClymont; Ian Kelly; Donald Gittens; and the talented Jodi Ho Lung; plus several others.