Acting President of Barbados, His Excellency, The Very Reverend Dr. Jeffrey Gibson commended one of Barbados newest centenarians for her dedication to her work and for offering herself in “service and worship” of God.
His Excellency expressed this view during his visit with Ms. Gibbons who celebrated her 100th birthday last
Thursday (July 03), at her home in Ashton Hall, St. Peter, where she lived all her life.
The Very Reverend Dr. Jeffrey Gibson stated: “May your heart always reflect the radiance of God’s presence,
where you love and cheer your family and friends, day by day and year by year. Congratulations.”
One of her sons, Jerry Gibbons, commented that his mother loved all of her children equally, even though some
would say he was her favourite son.
He remarked: “…I spent a lot of time with my mother, she is my guide, my advisory and I love her a lot…I wish her a
happy 100 th birthday and I hope that he will stay around to…get to be more than 100 for sure….”
Mr. Gibbons noted that he would help his mother cook on Sundays “especially preparing to do the sweet bread
and cakes”.
He remarked: “Up to this day I can’t get…how she managed the time so efficiently that you cook, get food ready
for 12 and then at three, baking for us again…. I try but it is difficult, I don’t know how she managed it, but she
did.”
One of her daughters, Marva Griffith noted that her mother, a devout Anglican, worked hard and was strict with
them. “You had to explain yourself…if you did anything wrong…. We managed to become what we are today, because of
her,” she stated.
She noted that her mother, overall, is “good” and “does not give any trouble”. Mrs. Gibbons was looking forward
to reaching her 100 th but suffered a “massive stroke” in January of this year leaving the family to doubt that she
would have “made it so far”.
Mrs. Griffith noted that the family’s care for her mother, especially after the stroke, has been key to helping her
reach this milestone.
She remarked: “…everybody…the grandchildren, the great grands, everybody, we see as our duty…we kept her
home and we looked after her…we take turns as a family in looking after her…”
Ms. Griffith noted that it was difficult, financially, for her mother, who raised 11 children (two of her 13 children
passed away at an early age). She added that despite the hardship her mother faced, she donated her first
month’s pension, in its entirety, to the church.
Ms. Gibbons attended All Saints Girls School (now All Saints Primary) after which she pursued a career as a
seamstress and took to learning music. She eventually gave both up for a career as an agricultural labourer on
Orange Hill Plantation where she worked until retirement.
Ms. Gibbons is a member of All Saints Anglican Church where she served in the Mother’s Union. Ms. Gibbons
ensured the family attend services at All Saints and at Ashton Hall Evangelistic Centre later that Sunday.
Ms. Gibbons enjoyed attending Crop Over events, especially Grand Kadooment. She enjoyed discussing politics
and was a frequent caller on radio programmes. Her favourite foods are coucou, flying fish, rice and conkies which
she was well known for making.
Mrs. Gibbons had 13 children (seven now deceased) and has 23 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren.
