Mrs. Hadassah Abigail Conliffe achieved her lifelong dream of reaching 100 years and celebrated the milestone with family and close friends.
The celebrations took place on December 24, 2025, at the New Dawn Home, Cliff Cottage, St. John, where Mrs. Conliffe shared her joy with attendees.
One of the specially invited guests was the President of Barbados, His Excellency, Lieutenant Colonel, The Most Honourable Jeffrey Bostic, marking his first official visit to a centenarian.
David Lucas, one of Mrs. Conliffe’s sons, expressed his gratitude for his mother’s guidance. He said: “You have been an inspiration to me to be a good human being, and to practise what you taught me and my siblings….”
He continued: “I remember 10 years ago, when we celebrated your 90th, how much you aspired to live to celebrate your 100th. I am truly grateful and thankful for everything that you have inspired me and us to be, simply because of who you are. I love you.”
In a tribute, John Lucas described his mother’s life as “an inspiration”, noting that while her professional goal of becoming a teacher was not realised, she was a teacher and life coach to many.
He shared one of the lessons he learned from her: “In order to live a joyful and an inspired life, I first need to use love and free will to find meaning in living a life of service to God and to God’s people.”
He added: “Her love of family, lived experience and various roles in Church ministry truly demonstrated she practised what she preached…. Her wisdom has been a guiding light.”
Mrs. Conliffe’s only daughter, Rosemary Lucas-Reifer, described her mother as a “wonderful human being and a mother”…who “kissed and cuddled” them as children.
“My mother had a life with its ups and downs, like everybody else…. She buried two husbands; the last was in 1992. She loves people, and she loves serving the church. I had to nag her to stop working…. This is your day…that day you wanted.”
Born in Rock Hall, St. Thomas, Mrs. Conliffe attended St. Thomas Girls’ School and later took up dressmaking. She made a living through sales, including pudding and souse, and was always looking for new ways to generate income.
An active Anglican, she engaged in church activities throughout her life. This included being a chorister, a member of the Society for the Promotion of Church Music and The Ushers Guild, and serving two terms as President of the Mothers’ Union. She was also instrumental in many fundraising efforts.
Though she currently faces some mobility challenges, Mrs. Conliffe remains mentally alert, with a sharp memory and always eager to share her experiences and life lessons.
She shared with His Excellency her memories of living through World War II: “You made it a good time because you could not get a lot of things and you were made to appreciate what you had…you had to make breadfruit cake, breadfruit this and breadfruit that; you killed some yard fowls…even doves…. You had to make do with what you had.”
She added: “We made it, and if you had…and you knew anybody that did not have, you shared it. There is a lesson in all of that.”
She offered advice to everyone: “Do the best that you can, while you can…. Be kind and generous to other people…and behave like a human being. Sometimes, things come to bother you … and make you lose control, but you have to ask God to help you not get carried away with what things happen around you. Do the best that you can and give God the glory and praise….”
In thanking everyone for celebrating her 100th birthday, Mrs. Conliffe said: “May God bless all of you and continue to bless me and to keep me in my right mind and to behave myself as I was taught to behave. Thank you all for coming.”
His Excellency presented Mrs. Conliffe with a bouquet of flowers and a bottle of non-alcoholic wine. Noting her sharp memory, he wished her a happy birthday and expressed the hope that she would “live to see many more” years with the same sharpness she has now.
Mrs. Conliffe has three children, six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Troy Barker
