Sinclair DaCosta Ifill celebrated his 100th birthday with family and friends at the Sandals Resort, Dover, Christ Church, on Saturday, August 30, 2025.
Acting President of Barbados, The Very Reverend Dr. Jeffrey Gibson, was one of Mr. Ifill’s specially invited guests.
In a tribute to his father, Ronald Ifill stated: “My dad has inspired all of us… When I was small, he had to leave Barbados; he laid a foundation down, so today I can say, dad thank you. You laid the foundation down for each…one of us to grow and become who we are…so enjoy your day…. God bless you dad….”
The centenarian’s brother, Howard Ifill, noted that it was “the grace of God that has brought him thus far.
“Sinclair was not only a brother, but he was a father to us. My dad died when I was eight years [old], and I remember Sinclair filling that role as a dad to all of us,” he said.
He also disclosed that the centenarian emigrated to England in 1955, shortly after hurricane Janet affected the island and that he took it upon himself to support the family while away. He shared a memory of the postman bring mail to the house and asking for someone to “come sign for this” which meant that “some money was coming from England” for the family.
“I trust that God will grant him health and what additional years that he may give to him that it will find him in reasonably good health…Sinclair, …God bless you, enjoy this 100th day…. I love you with all of my heart and I will keep loving you to the day one of us depart this world…. These milestones do not come to everybody,” Mr. Ifill said.
The centenarian grew up in Dash Valley St. George and attended St. David’s Primary School. He pursued a career in painting with a focus on spray painting.
Mr. Ifill and his wife, Vera (deceased), emigrated to the United Kingdom in 1955 and settled in Birmingham, where they both worked. Mrs. Ifill worked as a nurse, while Mr. Ifill worked for the Rover Company Limited and BMW spraying cars.
He pursued several hobbies, including playing dominoes, gardening, and wine making, bottles of which he still has today. His son, Ronald Ifill, noted that his father made “very good wine.”
An Anglican by faith, the centenarian continues to attend the St. George Parish Church and has a strong trust in God. His favourite foods include ground provisions, chicken, and fish. He enjoys relaxing, keeping watch of the neighborhood, for which he has received praise, and winning at the game of dominoes.
Ronald Ifill shared that his father is still recovering from an illness earlier this year, noting that playing dominoes helped a lot with his overall recovery and daily activities, as it helped to keep his mind sharp and motivated, as he is very skilled at it.
The centenarian attributes his longevity to the “grace of God” and recommends that people put their trust in God.
His advice to the younger generation is: Do well and be good…. Don’t do bad…always try to do good; don’t get into problems… Try and do good and behave yourself, be decent with people, don’t try to boss nobody, don’t try to steal from people. Do bad today ‘ya gine’ pay for it the next day….”
Mr. Ifill continued: “Behave yourself … Stop fighting and shooting…try and get some work… That is how I come up…do the right thing…stop the gun business…that is part of the problem.”
The Very Reverend Dr. Jeffrey Gibson presented Mr. Ifill with a fruit basket, a bottle of non-alcoholic wine and a personalised card.
Mr. Ifill had four children (one deceased), five grandchildren (one deceased), and 10 great-grandchildren.
