Family and friends gathered together in Wotton, Christ Church, to celebrate Joseph Nathaniel Wood’s 100th birthday on Friday, February 17, 2023. 

Mr. Wood received a special visit from President of Barbados, Her Excellency The Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason, via Zoom.

The centenarian, a carpenter by trade, shared with Her Excellency the flow of events that led to him becoming a carpenter and how he leveraged these skills in the United States during the Second World War.

Reflecting that his mother baked bread and would “sell on the plantation”, he noted that he often helped her out but after passing 7th Standard at St. Matthew’s Boys’ School, she then arranged for him to learn joinery so that he could become a carpenter and joiner.

“I went to C.F. Harrison and worked on the third floor (where the workshop was located) ….  I spent a long time there,” commented Mr. Wood, explaining that after that establishment closed, he worked independently and eventually found employment at Sam Lord’s Castle. Later on, Mr. Wood would find employment at Lower Estate Factory in St. Michael, initially as a carpenter and then as a technician on the curing process line. 

At 21 years old he migrated to North Carolina. “I went there to cut down timber, myself and others, but I did not really like that but I still stuck with it…. We went by boat …. There wasn’t a lot of planes then,” he recalled.

The centenarian, who has a long association with St. Matthew’s Anglican Church in Christ Church further shared that he has learnt to trust God through the years. Attributing his longevity to staying close to God, he told those gathered: “I belong to God….  Every Sunday, I used to go to church, Sunday School; I sing in the choir; I carry the Cross…. I belong to God.

“Every night before I go to sleep, I sit down on the bed and say my prayers and pray for all of my children for their children and other people too that I know.  And on mornings, the very same thing. By the time I wake up, that does come to me first,” stated the centenarian.

Mr. Wood, a widower, who lives alone, is independent and enjoys his retirement.  In addition to keeping in close contact with his family, the centenarian cooks for himself and likes to do chores around the house.

He remarked: “On mornings, I wake at 5:00 a.m., then breeze off…get my bath, get my tea, sweep the house and wash up.”  Adding that he also likes to go out and “sweep the yard”, he smilingly said “like I can’t do better”. 

A lover of rice, he eats ground provisions with his rice, enjoys cou cou, and will make dumplings “when in the mood”.  One of his daughters, Yvette Wood, commenting on his ability, said: “Up to two days ago, he (the centenarian) made breakfast for one of his sons….”

Another daughter, Jacqueline Wood, reminiscing about her childhood, confirmed her dad’s love for the outdoors.  She said: “One of my memories with my dad growing up is on Sundays, he would take the car out and we would go to maybe Bathsheba or on family picnics…”

As part of the celebration and on behalf of Her Excellency, Aide-de-Camp Lieutenant Jamal Wiggins, presented the centenarian with a bottle of wine, a fruit basket and a personalised card.

In closing, Her Excellency made a request of the family.  She stated: “Sit with your granddad and great-granddad and record his history…. You should sit with him; jot down from the day he was born all of the memories he has of all of these things and then you can pass them onto the rest of Barbados…. We need that.”

Mr. Wood has six remaining children (one passed away), four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.  His wife passed away in 2021, at the age of 91.

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