The celebration of Palm Sunday on March 29 was an especially significant day for Barbados’ newest centenarian, Muriel Dilworth, as it was also her 100th birthday.
As family and friends gathered to celebrate, they were joined by one of her specially invited guests, President of Barbados, His Excellency, Lieutenant Colonel, The Most Honourable Jeffrey Bostic.
Mrs. Dilworth’s sister, Daphney Weekes (now deceased), also marked her 100th birthday at the Mapp Hill residence, with a virtual visit (due to COVID-19) by then President of Barbados (now President Emeritus), Dame Sandra Mason.
After an initial greeting, President Bostic said: “It’s a special day, a very special day for you,” to which Mrs. Dilworth replied: “It’s a special day, 100 years old.”
Robin Wilson-Tolbert, one of her nieces, described Mrs. Dilworth as an artist in how she lived her life, being evident in her “fashion”, “style” and “elegance”.
She noted that her aunt was very “smart and precise” in her personal and professional life and was always present at family events. “[For] everything that was important to us, you were there,” she stated.
She said Mrs. Dilworth “brought Barbados” and Barbadian culture to her family.
She continued: “Every Christmas…there would be a box sent from your sisters (who lived in Barbados) that would have the…latest calypso album and some black rum cake and we would push back all the furniture and dance all evening….”
One of her cousins, Nicole Stark, shared that Mrs. Dilworth left an indelible mark on her life by being “there for everything”, including graduations and concerts.
Another cousin, Karen King, shared that she “is a joy to be with”. She highlighted the role of the centenarian’s caregivers in helping her reach this milestone and thanked them for their dedication.
Caregiver, Ruth Beckles, noted that one of Mrs. Dilworth’s sisters connected with her many years ago by offering to sign, on her behalf, for the building materials that were being delivered to her home. This saved Ms. Beckles from having to leave work to do so.
She said it was through that initial connection that the friendship started, and she was able to care for both Mrs. Dilworth and her sister Daphney Weekes. Ms. Beckles stated: “God put you in a position to…work where He wants you to work, not how I want to work, but how He wants me to work, so I am thankful for that.”
She added that the centenarian eats everything prepared for her, with her favourite foods being ground provisions, fish and pudding and souse.
Mrs. Dilworth was born in Mapp Hill, St. Michael and attended the South District Girls’ School (now the Blackman and Gollop Primary School). She eventually emigrated to the United States, where she lived in Townsend Street, Boston.
She was the Executive Assistant to the Editor of the Harvard Business Review and was married to John (Buddy) Dilworth (now deceased). She has no children.
She returned to her childhood home in Barbados in 1998 and continued with her hobbies, including playing tennis and gardening. She is a member of the St. Barnabas Anglican Church.
