Former Landship Commanding Officer, Louise Odessa Holder, was all smiles as she celebrated her 100th birthday on June 22, 2024, at Enterprise, Christ Church.
She was joined by a specially invited guest, President of Barbados, The Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason, and family members.
One of Mrs. Holder’s grandsons, Kerry Holder, noted that the centenarian is “the root of everything good” and when it came to attending church every Sunday, the family “never had a choice” in the matter.
Mr. Holder said his mother, Jennifer Holder, who passed away six years ago, had a special bond with the centenarian and cared for her 32 years ago when the centenarian became blind, due to the effects of glaucoma. After his mother’s passing six years ago, the centenarian’s two sons, Vincent and Osborne Holder, took on that role.
Her son Vincent Holder remarked: “She was very strict, and I love her for that…. She taught me from small…if you can’t give a person a clean glass of water, don’t give them at all…. I was obedient to my mother.”
He also shared stories where his mother’s spirituality, code of ethics, and focus on doing what is right instilled similar values in him and guided him throughout his life. “I commend my mother for teaching me values,” he said.
One of the centenarian’s daughters, Sylvia Marshall, stated: “I am blessed…to still have my mother alive. Her life was a jewel and still is. From small, she brought us up that every one of us had to go to Sunday School; you had to be in the House of God and anything that happened, the first thing she would do, she’s going to pray for you first. Pray to God first before the doctor.”
Mrs. Marshall added: “She worked for us and raised us all as a single mum. Everything that she could get her hand to do, she would do it…to raise us, and she never complained…. She would always be praying for us…and she’d tell you don’t trouble nobody; don’t get in no noise with nobody; don’t be in no confusion with nobody.”
Born in Fruitful Hill, St. Joseph, Mrs. Holder lived most of her life in Richmond Gap, St. Michael. After leaving St. Bernard’s Primary School, she took on several roles, including being a plantation worker and cook.
She was married to Livingston Holder (now deceased) and had 12 children (four deceased). She has 21 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. She looked after many individuals from within her community, young and old.
One of her hobbies is cooking. She has a great appreciation for food and loves pudding and souse, and cou cou with flying fish or red herring.
The centenarian is credited with being one of the earliest members of the Barbados Landship and had two ships of her own, The Cornwall and Queen Mary. Her uncle, Clarence Carrington, who also had his own Landship, recognised her skills as a Drill Master and asked her to take over his ship, but she declined.
Rising to the role of Commander in the Barbados Landship, Mrs. Holder performed as a member of the Landship at the Garrison Savannah when Barbados gained independence from Britain on November 30, 1966.
The centenarian, who is a Pentecostal, has a deep trust in God and will pray for anyone, especially if they are ill. “When I get up on mornings, I say my prayers and I thank God for waking me and I thank Him for how I stay up and He loves me and whatsoever He tells me to do and I ask Him to give me the strength to do it, He gives me the strength,” she said.
Her Excellency presented the centenarian with a personalised card, a bottle of non-alcoholic wine and a bouquet of flowers and carefully described the colours within the bouquet to her.
In her closing remarks, Dame Sandra stated: “It is a privilege to be here…. I really do appreciate people like your grandmother…on whose backs Barbados was built. But this morning, I heard coming out each time…Christian principles and the question of honesty, the question of caring, the question of guidance etc., and we just take these things for granted. But it is these persons that have reached this ripe old age who would have taught us all of these principles.
“Thank you for having me, thank you for living to 100 years old so I could come and visit you…. Do enjoy the rest of your birthday…. God bless. Thank you all for having me.”
