“There is no secret in what God can do.” Canaries man reaches 101

Joseph Gordon Marquis of Canaries celebrated his 101st birthday today, marking more than a century of a life shaped by family, faith, hard work and a relatively simple lifestyle. Marquis is the father of seven children and has 19 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Born and raised in Saint Lucia, Marquis migrated to England at a very young age, where he developed a passion for carpentry.

That interest eventually led to a job at Middlesex Hospital in London, where he worked as a carpenter. His life has also been shaped by choices he made concerning his health. Marquis never smoked and said that although he drank alcohol at one point, a bad experience prompted him to stop. His faith has also remained an important part of his life, with his “love and devotion to serve God” identified as another factor that has guided him through the years. At 101, Marquis is still in good health. “He is in good health. A few aches and pains but that is expected,” his family told…