At 100 years, Winifred Holder, who celebrated her birthday on Saturday, January 24, reflected on her life of service to her community and church.
As part of the activities to celebrate her life, President of Barbados, Lieutenant Colonel The Most Honourable Jeffrey Bostic, visited her at the Vauxhall Methodist Church Annex.
President Bostic shared with Ms. Holder that he was “very proud” to be a part of the celebration.
Describing her life as one of “service, dedication and commitment”, member of the Vauxhall Methodist Church, Carol Taylor, shared that Ms. Holder, who was a chorister, was always “reliable and trustworthy”. She added that she took on other duties, including cooking, baking and cleaning.
Ms. Taylor noted that the centenarian cooked and baked to help raise funds for the Church, with her pudding and souse being a favourite dish among the patrons.
Joseph Hope, a member of the Vauxhall Methodist Church, commented: “Ms. Holder is a woman who loves the Lord, enjoys reading her Bible and gives much in service to the Methodist Church here in Vauxhall.”
He indicated that the centenarian is from a family of “long livers”. Her mother, Miriam Holder, was also a centenarian and was visited by the then Governor General of Barbados, Dame Nita Barrow.
Raised in Vauxhall, Minister of Educational Transformation, Chad Blackman, paid tribute to the centenarian. He remarked: “This is an important moment for Vauxhaul…. Ms. Holder would keep us if our parents were running late in picking us up from school…. Her commitment to the community is one that cannot be highlighted enough.”
Mr. Blackman noted that the centenarian is a former schoolmate of Shirley Chisolm (deceased), the first black woman elected to the United States Congress.
Ms. Holder was raised in Vauxhall and attended Vauxhall Mixed School (now Shirley Chisholm Primary School). After leaving school, she became an entrepreneur, making and selling pudding and souse, sugar cakes and other Barbadian delicacies, as well as newspapers, up to when she reached 99 years.
When asked by His Excellency what contributed to her reaching the age of 100, Ms. Holder said eating “something good” and living “a good life”. Ms. Holder has one child and two grandchildren.
