Bernadine St. Hill marked her 100th birthday on August 20, 2026, at her home in Rowans Park, St. George, surrounded by family and friends.
Among her special guests was the President of Barbados, His Excellency, The Most Honourable Jeffrey Bostic, who joined the family in celebrating the milestone.
For Mrs. St. Hill, however, the occasion was tinged with sadness. Her husband of 67 years, Othniel St. Hill, who had hoped to share the celebration with her, passed away on August 14, 2026, at the age of 93.
Known for her enduring wit and engaging personality, Mrs. St. Hill welcomed President Bostic into her home and readily shared memories of her life – from her childhood in Dominica in the 1930s to her many years in Barbados.
“I had a good life, I must say. I travelled a lot…. I went to [the] Panama Canal and all those places. I had a good life…. I was married…67 years,” she reflected.
“I was always a happy person. I love everybody; I never said I hate anyone, and I didn’t have much, but the little I had, I helped people around me,” Mrs. St. Hill said.
In a tribute to his mother, her son Cleve St. Hill described the milestone as a celebration of “a century of mum’s life spent in Dominica, Guadeloupe, Barbados, the United Kingdom and the USA”.
“Central to mum’s life has been the love, support and devotion to her family and friends, underpinned by a deep faith,” he said.
He added that his mother’s character was reflected in those gathered to celebrate her 100th
“It is a testament to the type of person that mum is, that she now enjoys the presence of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and so many other relatives and friends on this day,” he said.
Born in Dominica, Mrs. St. Hill spent part of her childhood in Guadeloupe.
As a young child, she survived Hurricane San Felipe II in 1928 but subsequently suffered a debilitating illness after drinking contaminated water and slipped into a coma.
Following the hurricane, she was mistakenly believed to be dead and was among hundreds of bodies reportedly destined to be burned. However, someone carefully checked her and noticed that she was still warm. That intervention saved her life.
Around 1944, at age 18, Mrs. St. Hill emigrated to Barbados with her father and sister. She worked as a shop assistant in a hardware store before moving to the United Kingdom in 1958.
A year later, she married Othniel St. Hill, beginning a marriage that would span 67 years.
While in the UK, her varied career included working as a seamstress, where she made can-can dresses, a secretary, and as the manager of an on-site restaurant at the Royal Mint in London.
She also spent periods working in the United States as a caregiver, from 1972 to 1974 and again from 1983 to 1986. Her work left a lasting impression, with her receiving letters expressing gratitude and appreciation for the care she provided.
Before returning to Barbados in the 1970s, Mrs. St. Hill experienced the loss of one of her sons and two of her sisters. She subsequently raised one of her sister’s daughters as her own, with the wider family embracing her as well.
Unknown to her husband, who was still in the UK at the time, she purchased land in Rowans Park, St. George, which became their family home after they finally resettled in Barbados.
Mrs. St. Hill, who is Catholic, regularly attended services at St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church in Jemmotts Lane, St. Michael. She enjoyed gardening, going to the beach and cooking, with oxtail being one of her favourite dishes.
Today, she continues to enjoy spending time with family and friends. She has also embraced technology, making full use of her tablet to read, attend online services, and watch artificial intelligence and cookery programmes. One of her favourite food bloggers is Mark Wiens.
When President Bostic asked her to share her thoughts for the youth of Barbados, she replied: “I wish them well, and we can help them…. They must learn to love each other.”
Mrs. St. Hill had two children, one of whom is deceased. She also has an adopted daughter, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
