It was a celebration for family, friends and the residents of Tender Hearts Retreat Villa in Rowans, St. George, as Estella Agatha Alleyne celebrated her 100th birthday on Friday, May 30.
One of Ms. Alleyne’s specially invited guests was President of Barbados, Her Excellency The Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason.
Upon arrival, Her Excellency enquired of Ms. Alleyne how she was feeling, to which the centenarian responded: “I am not bad. I wasn’t well…but I am better now, thank God.” Ms. Alleyne later shared that she did not expect to reach 100 and attributed her longevity to “The Almighty God”.
One of Ms. Alleyne’s daughters, Pauline Lamontagne, shared that her mother is a “very resilient woman” and that “she saved five cents out of every penny”. She noted that her mother outlived her (the centenarian’s) three younger siblings, as well as her husband, Oliver Walton, who passed away relatively early in the marriage.
Ms. Lamontagne also shared that growing up, her mother was caring and “very, very strict”, and regularly administered doses of “castor oil, olive oil or shark oil” to her and her siblings, especially during the school holidays.
The centenarian cooked and sewed for her family, often dedicating her days off from work to sew, using a pedal operated Singer sewing machine. Ms. Lamontagne recalled being a bit upset when she would have to stop playing with her friends outside, as her mother would call her to come in and “thread the needle” on the sewing machine.
In her tribute, Monique Drayton, a close friend and member of Mount Zion’s Missions Inc. Barbados Foursquare Church, shared that she first met Ms. Alleyne “about 14 years ago”, taking the centenarian to church on Sundays and Thursdays.
The centenarian’s commitment to church and its activities have been evident over the years. Of note, was Ms. Alleyne’s (at age 96) portrayal of the soldier Barak (a Biblical character) in a church dramatical presentation for which she was highly praised.
Ms. Drayton remarked: “Agatha is a very wise woman, sometimes a woman of few words but she gives sage advice. … Anyone who knows Agatha knows that she loves to dress-up and to look good and to smell good…Agatha says what she means, and she means what she says, without respect or fear or favour for anybody.”
Sharing a few of the centenarian’s secrets to a long and happy life, Monique noted the following: “Put God in everything and put everything in God’s hands. Take one day at a time, don’t rush it…don’t rush the brush, you will throw away the paint. Put something in your stomach when the day come. Drink some goat’s milk, it will keep you healthy.”
While in her 90’s, Ms. Alleyne suffered two strokes for which she was hospitalised. Ms. Drayton remarked: “Five days after she came out of the hospital [the centenarian told her] “I want to go back to church, I got to walk and go back to church.” It was with this zeal that Ms. Alleyne, wearing foot weights, walked around the Garfield Sobers Sports Complex two to three times a week until she felt recovered.
Within four weeks of leaving the hospital, Ms. Alleyne returned to church without the use of a wheelchair, walker or cane, though she carried an umbrella in the event some support was needed. According to the family friend, this inspired others to consider getting rid of their walkers and canes.
Raised initially in Blades Hill, St. Phillip, Ms. Alleyne moved to Deacons, St. Michael, where she eventually built her home. Upon completing her schooling at Hindsbury Primary School, St. Michael, she took up needleworking while looking after her children. Over time, she worked as a maid at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and later performed in a similar role at Paradise Beach Resort, St. Michael, until her retirement.
Today, Ms. Alleyne resides at the Tender Hearts Retreat Villa, Rowans, St. George, and enjoys relaxing, engaging with those around her and praising God. She enjoys all food, “once it tastes good”, listing cou cou and rum and raisin ice cream as her favourites.
Her advice to young people is that they trust “The Almighty God” in everything they do and embrace happiness.
In her remarks, Her Excellency commented to Ms. Alleyne’s family: “Continue to take good care of her and revere her…reaching 100 is a remarkable feat and she could not have done it without the love and care of all of the family.” Dame Sandra thanked the centenarian for the invitation to join in her celebration, and wished her “a very good birthday”.
Ms. Alleyne has nine living children (one is deceased), 24 grandchildren, several great grandchildren and great great grandchildren.
