Special to the AFRO
HAT-B 90th Birthday was the theme of the Sunday afternoon luncheon to honor Mrs. Jean E. Merrick on a tremendous milestone.
Adorned in her usual finery, a beautiful hat, gloves and fine accessories, she entered the hushed Ellicott Room of Matthew’s 1600 in Catonsville, where nearly 150 family and life-long friends awaited her arrival. There was no shouting, “Surprise!” Everyone just waited for her to notice the room of guests – hailing from Baltimore, Washington, D.C., New York, Pennsylvania, Boston and Bermuda – resplendent in their Sunday best.
Seeing familiar faces, her family and a room full of ladies donning hats, fascinators and fine garments, and gentlemen in suits and ties, she smiled and waved, still not realizing they were there for her. When the applause erupted, her son Dr. Marco Merrick whispered in her ear, “Happy Birthday, Mom,” as she tearfully covered her face with her white gloves…