51 years later

Elgin’s Jamison triplets, born on 3 separate days, finally reach goal of getting in Guinness

The Jamison family triplets are in the record book.

When the Elgin-born siblings entered the world on three separate days in 1956, it marked the longest recorded interval in the births of triplets. Today, their names — and their mother’s nearly 67 hours of labor — have been added to the Guinness World Records book. News

“It was a long time that we were Columnist waiting for it,” Catherine Jamison Able, the second born of the trio, said of their addition to Guinness. “I wish my parents were here to enjoy the moment.”

Christine Berdeguez-Jamison was born Jan. 2, 1956, followed by her sister Catherine on Jan. 3 and their younger brother Calvin Jamison on Jan. 4. The two sisters live in Columbia, and Calvin Jamison resides in Atlanta. Now 51, the three plan to gather in early December for an official celebration in Columbia with family and friends.

“You can’t put a price on it,” Berdeguez-Jamison said earlier this week as she gazed at the certificate with the Guinness seal.

Earning that certificate required the family to provide extensive documentation, including birth certificates, a signature from each sibling and written news accounts. The process started two years ago, and Guinness officially certified the selection last summer. But Berdeguez-Jamison had since relocated and didn’t learn about it until she e-mailed Guinness in recent weeks.

Once she did, she called her sister right away, but didn’t tell her brother until later.

“I didn’t call him until I had the certificate in my hand. He’s that kind of person that you have to have proof.”

Calvin Jamison applauded his sibling’s restraint. “My sisters have a lot of ideas, and they are consistently moving with things. And sometimes they work out and sometimes they don’t.”

The youngest sibling admitted he initially questioned the chances of setting a record. ” . . . I thought it was something that happened pretty frequently back in the day.”

What distinguished their births was the interval between the first and last deliveries. Christine Berdeguez-Jamison was born at 3:05 a.m. Jan. 2, Catherine Jamison Able was born at 10 a.m. Jan. 3, and Calvin Jamison didn’t arrive until 9:55 p.m. Jan. 4.

The three have consistently credited their parents — particularly their mother — for the feat.

“They really deserve all the credit,” Berdeguez-Jamison said.

The Jamisons grew up in Blaney, now Elgin. Their parents, Robert Jamison and Louise Jamison, had 11 children — the triplets were the eighth, ninth and 10th.

The siblings don’t recall their mother talking much about their births, but as time passed they became more aware of the special circumstances.

Berdeguez-Jamison decided to submit their story to Guinness after picking up the book while on a trip to New York years ago. She said she wondered whether Guinness had ever heard a story like theirs.

It has now. The Jamisons’ names will debut in the Guinness World Records book next summer with the 2009 edition.

“We’re just proud to be in the book, and we’re going to try to do some celebrating and give God all the praise and glory, and also to our parents,” Calvin Jamison said.

“It’s just a delight to be here, and to be in Guinness.”

THREE FOR THE BOOKS

Record labor of 66 hours, 55 minutes

Christine Berdeguez- Jamison

was born at 3:05 a.m., Jan. 2, 1956.

Catherine Jamison Able

was born at 10 a.m.,

Jan. 3, 1956.

Calvin Jamison

arrived at 9:55 p.m.,

Jan. 4, 1956.

For more on the triplets, go to thestate.com.