One of Barbados’ newest centenarians, Mrs. Violet Cox-Small, celebrated her birthday on January 6, 2025, at the Barbados Yacht Club, surrounded by her family, close friends, and members of the First Baptist Church, who organised the event.
President of Barbados, The Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason was one of Mrs. Cox-Small’s specially invited guests.
Deaconess and Leader of the Women’s Ministry at First Baptist Church, Dianna Leacock, shared that Mrs. Cox-Small is the Church’s first centenarian and that the congregation “wanted to let her know that we are celebrating with her, so we invited the President to greet her, some of her family is here…and some of the members of the church”.
Ms. Leacock added that the celebrations will continue through to Sunday, January 12, to include the wider congregation.
As part of the tribute to her grandmother, Ms. Geaver Cox, who is also her caregiver, shared a poem she wrote entitled “A Strong Woman of God”. She highlighted her desire to follow in her grandmother’s footsteps and be a “strong woman of God”. She also noted Mrs. Cox-Small’s love of hats and dressing in colourful outfits.
Ms. Cox said her grandmother is a “very loving person”, who taught the word of God to the “young boys” in the Pine, and they would “watch TV at her house”. She also added that the centenarian was very giving. “If you ask, the older Pine people would tell you she is always nice; she always giving…. When she cooked, she shared food [with] her neighbours,” she said.
Commenting on the need for young people to care for the elderly, Ms. Cox said that the elderly are “our history, our legends” from whom we can learn as they have gained a lot of knowledge from experience. She noted that the younger generations should keep setting the example of caring for the elderly, remarking: “When you get old, you want the same thing to happen to you.”
In his tribute to the centenarian, Superintendent Pastor Henderson Neblett remarked: “To be honest, in speaking to her, I wish when I get to that stage, I am somewhat like her, as sharp and as graceful as ever.”
Sister Millicent Estwick, a friend of the centenarian commented: “She is one who celebrates life, that’s why she is here today, and she always trusts in God, and she is a loyal friend…. She is a giving person, a caring person, a religious person; if you have her as a friend you have a loyal friend.”
Born in Forde’s Road, Brittons Hill, St. Michael, Mrs. Cox-Small moved to St. George with her grandmother and attended the St. Augustine Girls’ School (now the Cuthbert Moore Primary School). After repeated bouts of illness as a child, the centenarian returned to live with her mother in Brittons Hill, St. Michael, where she attended St. Paul’s Primary School.
After leaving school, Mrs. Cox-Small worked with her mother selling cane until her first marriage in 1954 to Vernon Cox (now deceased), after which she focused on raising her two children. Mrs. Cox-Small exchanged nuptials a second time with Charles Small, and they remained together until his passing.
Mrs. Cox-Small attributes her longevity to “the Lord” who is keeping her “good” and to her granddaughter. She advised people to “seek the Lord” if they are desirous of living a long life.
She said it was her grandmother who instilled the importance of attending Sunday School and being committed to daily worship.
Mrs. Cox-Small added that it was this commitment to Sunday School and Church that led her to raise funds to support the building of a new edifice and the relocation of the First Baptist Church from Roebuck Street to its present location at Constitution Road.
In addition to being the first centenarian of the Church, Mrs. Cox-Small was the second person to exchange nuptials at the church.
She shared that during the 1937 uprising, she was at St. Paul’s Primary when “men” from the Collymore Rock area ran into the school “with sticks” to get their children. “The men run in the school and allowed the children to run out… I didn’t even know what [was] going on. When I get home my mother gone town to see what was happening; she lucky she didn’t get shoot…. Some people from Brittons Hill get shoot…. I had to hide…,” she said.
One of Mrs. Cox-Small’s fondest memories was going for rides onboard the Barbados Railway (1883 -1937) as her mother regularly took her on “excursions”. She said the train travelled from Bridgetown to Belleplaine, St. Andrew and back.
Today, the centenarian is relatively independent and overall is in good health. She enjoys quiet days at home, attending Church whenever she is able, and watching religious programmes as well as detective and action movies. Her favourite food is cornmeal cou cou, as prepared by her granddaughter, Geaver Cox, but said she would eat whatever is prepared for her.
Dame Sandra presented Mrs. Cox-Small with a bouquet of flowers, a bottle of non-alcoholic wine and a personalised card, which she read aloud. Upon receiving the flowers, the centenarian remarked: “They look nice, lovely…. Thank you very much.”
At the end of her visit, Her Excellency said: “I want to say congratulations once again and I want you to continue what you have been doing all the years…. I want to wish you all the very best and continue to enjoy…. I am happy to have met you.”
Mrs. Cox-Small had two children, five remaining grandchildren (one deceased), and a total of 17 great and great-great grandchildren.
