It was pure joy and laughter for the family and friends of Briggs William Wharton, who gathered on June 10, 2025, at the Rectory of Holy Trinity Anglican Church, St. Philip, to celebrate his 100th birthday.
One of his specially invited guests was the President of Barbados, Her Excellency, The Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason.
His next of kin, Barry Tudor, shared that Mr. Wharton “always maintained a deep, personal faith in God”. It was this faith that made him commit his life to God and the Anglican Church at the age of 21. In 1978, he earned a Certificate in Theology from Codrington College, St. John.
The centenarian was born in Gall Hill, St. John, and initially had his mother’s surname, Codrington. This was changed to Wharton after his parents were married. Mr. Wharton has never been married and has no known children.
His mother passed away when he was seven years old, and at age 10, he moved to live with his great aunt in Marchfield, St. Philip. Mr. Tudor noted that Mr. Wharton’s “life was significantly more comfortable there”, and there were “less lashes”.
To help make ends meet, at age 12, Mr. Wharton worked at Harrow Plantation, St. Philip, earning “12 cents per day” to keep blackbirds from the corn fields. He also worked at other plantations, including Oughterson and Bushy Park.
Mr. Tudor further noted that “life for Briggs, as with many other people, was tough”, and he sought other forms of employment. These included working as a gardener in Christ Church and selling “newspapers for the Barbados Advocate from 1946 to 1947”, which he did walking from Bridgetown to Seawell Airport, despite many people being unable to “read at the time”.
Mr. Wharton trained as a baker at Johnson and Redman Bakery in Bridgetown, but after four months, he left the bakery, as “he found the heat unbearable and had to abandon that ambition”. He also worked for 17 years as a janitor at the Ministry of Agriculture.
The centenarian also worked at other jobs, including making and selling ice cream and snow cones. His deepest desire was to serve “the church”, and according to Mr. Tudor, “had circumstances been different, he may have become an ordained Anglican priest”.
Mr. Tudor added that Mr. Wharton played an active role in the church and became the sexton at the St. Thomas (Parish) Church in 1991, serving until 2009 under Reverend Dr. Michael Clarke. During his tenure, he conducted church services and funerals. He also “walked the length and breadth” of St. Thomas “distributing communion to shut-ins”.
Dame Sandra invited the centenarian to share some of his experiences, to which he quickly replied: “I am very glad that somebody like you, of your dignity, have their eyes on me…. So, would you marry me?”
With the room filled with laughter, Her Excellency replied: “…You have just proposed to me…if I accept you, what would you do?” His reply was: “…Well, you need a ring, you know….”
Mr. Wharton then shared detailed information on the upbringing of the late Sir Henry Forde, and the Right Excellent Errol Walton Barrow, including his travels to St. Croix.
The centenarian disclosed that he had it “rough” growing up and never travelled outside of Barbados. However, despite the hardships, he felt life in Barbados overall was “sweet”.
He remarked: “Today, I am feeling real good, 100 years…. I would like to tell the young men…at Dodds, half of you should be at Codrington College because you were educated and if I had that education, I would be a priest today….
“When I was a boy, I was a wicked boy, but I said to the Almighty God when I reach the age of 21, I’m going to serve you carefully and faithfully, and I did it, that is why you can see me here today.”
Morning prayer is very special to Mr. Wharton. “I pray for the Government and not only the Government but the world…. I seriously pray because I realise that I made it over many men and women, and I thank God for His guidance and His grace,” he said.
Her Excellency remarked: “I want you to enjoy the rest of your birthday and whatever God has in store for you, especially today, I want you to enjoy it…. God has given you the gift of 100 years, and I want you to celebrate and enjoy it.”
Responding, Mr. Wharton said: “I thank you very much…. Madam, I congratulate you. I know you from a little girl visiting your grandmother in Parish Land…. I know you worked hard before you got to the top. I [am] sorry your grandparents were not alive to see you rise to the top.”
To those gathered, Dame Sandra said: “One of the things I am amazed about this gentleman is his ability…to speak English so well, and he did not have the benefit of education that these young people are having, and I noticed his English has been perfect from the time I came here…. His memory is fantastic…. I just want God to continue to bless him.”
